Wicks Fans 10 in Cats’ 7-1 Win Over Lobos

MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State starting pitcher Jordan Wicks struck out 10 over six innings and Chris Ceballos drove in three runs in a series-opening 7-1 victory over New Mexico Friday night at Tointon Family Stadium.

Wicks equaled his career-high strikeout total, as he hit double-digit strikeouts for the third time this season. The southpaw scattered five hits over his six innings of work, allowing one earned run while walking three. It marked his fourth quality outing in five starts and improved his record to 4-0.

"We treated it like it was a conference weekend, sort of a dress rehearsal against a team with a really good pitching staff," head coach Pete Hughes said. "I thought we played clean. I thought we played good on a Friday night. Our Friday night guy, Jordan Wicks, did his thing. I was really happy to see that we got run support for him to get that win. We haven't done a great job with our starters getting run support and giving them their wins as of late, so that was really good to see."

Ceballos drove in the game's first run in the fourth inning before a two-run single in the sixth broke a 1-1 tie and put the Wildcats (12-5) ahead, 3-1. Ceballos, a senior who entered the game 2-for-30 at the plate this season, ended the night 2-for-3 with three RBI.

"Really happy for Chris Ceballos, who's been struggling," added Hughes. "This game will beat you down and you have to stay in the right place mentally to be able to do what he did for our team tonight. Hopefully we can get him going.

"He's been a really good hitter for us. He's been productive and we've all seen it. He's been struggling and we've been trying to get him through it. This game is really hard. It can beat on you pretty good. I believe in him and I saw it with my own eyes."

Zach Kokoska's two-run home run capped a four-run sixth inning and put K-State in front 5-1 to back Wicks' start. Kokoska's homer was his team-leading seventh of the season and the Cats' 24^th home run of the season.

New Mexico (5-9) had tied the game with a solo home run from Jack Silverman in the top of the sixth off Wicks.

Wicks stranded two Lobo runners in scoring position in the fourth, as he struck out Tresten Kennard, and he left two more in base in the fifth, punching out Kyler Castillo with men on first and second.

"When things get a little dangerous and it's in favor of the other team, he can snuff it out.," Hughes said of his starter. "That's where he gets better. I've seen him do that a bunch. He just made his pitches tonight."

UNM ended the night 2-for-16 with runners on base and were hitless with runners in scoring position (0-for-6).

K-State reached double-digit hits for the eighth time this season. Ceballos and Kokoska along with Daniel Carinci and Cameron Thompson each produced two base hits, including a leadoff double from Thompson in the fourth.

Jaxon Passino and Tyler Eckberg combined to keep the Lobos scoreless over the final three innings. Eckberg retired all six batters he faced with a strikeout over the eighth and ninth frames.

UNM starter Nathaniel Garley suffered the loss after giving up three earned runs on five hits in five innings.

Castillo's two hits led the Lobos, going 2-for-4. Silverman connected on his fourth home run of the campaign.

K-State managed two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh after a New Mexico error extended the inning.

The Wildcats were 4-for-16 with runners on base and 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

The teams have split two games so far this season, with New Mexico winning a 4-3 decision on February 21 in Surprise, Arizona, in the season's opening weekend.

K-State continues its three-game series with New Mexico Saturday at 4 p.m. Saturday's game at Tointon Family Stadium is sold out. The game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app Radio coverage will also be available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) with live, free audio at K-StateSports.com/watch.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

K-State scored seven runs on 10 hits with no errors and four left on base.
New Mexico scored one run on seven hits with one error and nine left on base.
Wicks improved to 4-0, working six innings and allowing just one run on five hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts.
Wicks' 10 strikeouts tied a career high. He has reached 10 strikeouts in three of five starts this year.
K-State scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth, including a two-run homer from Kokoska.
It marked Kokoska's team-leading seventh home run of the season.
Carinci, Ceballos, Thompson and Willman each had two hits for K-State.
Wicks, Passino and Eckberg combined for 12 strikeouts.
The Wildcats were 4-for-16 with runners on base and 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
UNM ended the night 2-for-16 with runners on base while the Cats held the Lobos hitless with runners in scoring position (0-for-6).

NOTES

K-State holds a 9-8-1 series advantage against New Mexico.
The teams have now split two games this season (played February 21 in Surprise, Arizona).
Hughes picked up his 699^th career victory.
Phillips is on a career-high 28-game on-base streak dating back to last season.
Phillips extended his hitting streak to eight games and as a hit in 26 of his last 28 contests.
Carinci extended his career-long reached-base stretch to 15 games.
Kokoska has reached safely in each of the last 13 contests.
Thompson made his 201^st consecutive start for K-State, good for sixth place in school history.
Wicks has worked at least six innings in all five of his starts this season.
K-State has 24 homers this season, all coming in the last 13 games.

🍀 Cats Win 🍀#KStateBSB pic.twitter.com/sXkdW4s8Wf
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 20, 2021

✅ 28 game on-base streak
✅ Hit safely in 26 of last 28 games

Helmet boop worthy play from @DylanP_16 pic.twitter.com/ZQPGjA3S8B
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 20, 2021

clow·der
/ˈkloudər/

noun (rare)

a group of cats.#KStateBSB x EMAW pic.twitter.com/oI4beMx0gN
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 20, 2021

💣💣💣💣💣💣💣@ZachKokoska connects for HR #7 #KStateBSB 5 - UNM 1 | Top 7 pic.twitter.com/WZA40UJB4S
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 20, 2021

.@ChrisCeballos20 does it again... A single up the middle plates two for CC's 3rd RBI of the night. #KStateBSB 3 - UNM 1 | Bot 6 pic.twitter.com/T25gqjHqlq
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 20, 2021

📊 5 IP, 4 H, 8 K's (77 pitches)#KStateBSB 1 - UNM 0 | Bot 5#KStateBSB x @wicks_jordan pic.twitter.com/UsNwssualG
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 20, 2021

Ceballos sends a rope into left to bring home Thompson and the 'Cats score first #KStateBSB 1 - UNM 0 | End 4 pic.twitter.com/fK3aXMuZxr
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 20, 2021

Straight 🔥

Wicks - 4 IP, 2H, 6 K's #KStateBSB 0 - UNM 0 | Bot 4 pic.twitter.com/RTIDv3pgF7
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 20, 2021

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Team Stats

Cameron Thompson

Chris Ceballos

Daniel Carinci

Kamron Willman

Players Mentioned

Daniel Carinci

Chris Ceballos

Tyler Eckberg

Zach Kokoska

Jaxon Passino

Cameron Thompson

Jordan Wicks

Players Mentioned

Daniel Carinci

Chris Ceballos

Tyler Eckberg

Zach Kokoska

Jaxon Passino

Cameron Thompson

Jordan Wicks

Kansas State University Athletics