Lobos Slide by Wildcats, 6-4

MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State's Zach Kokoska drove in three runs and Cole Johnson homered, but the New Mexico Lobos staved off the Wildcats Saturday, 6-4, at Tointon Family Stadium.

Johnson finished with a team-high three hits, including his first home run as a Wildcat in the ninth inning that capped three unanswered runs by K-State (12-6) over the last two innings. Kokoska singled to bring Johnson home in the first inning before he recorded a two-RBI single in the eighth.

New Mexico (6-9) scored three in the third, highlighted by a two-run home run from Kyler Castillo. Adam Schneider tallied a two-out, two-run single in the fourth to tag K-State starter Carson Seymour for five runs over his five innings of work.

"The team that puts the ball in play more often has more opportunities to score runs, simple as that," said head coach Pete Hughes. "You put the ball in play, you make them play defense and maybe get a cheap hit. But if you strike out that many times without swinging, nothing good can happen offensively. That was the difference.

"With the exception of the home run, it was soft contact all day long on Carson (Seymour). He had some bad luck, but I thought he pitched well enough for us to win. We've got to be more competitive offensively."

Seymour struck out a season-high seven New Mexico hitters in the loss. The redshirt sophomore yielded eight hits while only walking one.

He and Kasey Ford combined to limit the Lobos to one hit with runners in scoring position (1-for-14). Ford logged the final four innings, striking out six with one run given up on five hits. Seymour and Ford teamed up for 13 strikeouts while allowing three walks.

Lobos starter Justin Armbruester punched out eight in his 6 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run on six hits in picking up his third win.

UNM got three hits from shortstop Willie Cano and two RBI apiece from Castillo and Schneider. Kyle Landers doubled twice.

The Cats stranded 10 men on base and left the bases loaded in both the seventh and eighth innings. Nick Goodwin singled in the bottom of the ninth after Johnson homered, bringing the game-tying run to the plate.

UNM closer Bobby Meza collected the save with 1 2/3 innings and one run on two hits. Meza, who struck out two, earned his third save of the season.

Four New Mexico pitchers combined to strike out 11 against two walks.

Along with Goodwin, Johnson and Kokoska, Chris Ceballos tallied a pair of hits to round out four Wildcats with multiple hits.

Dylan Phillips doubled and walked in the game, extending his on-base streak to 29 games.

The series rubber match is set for a 1 p.m. start at Tointon Family Stadium. 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 four runs on 12 hits with two errors and 10 left on base.
New Mexico scored six runs on 13 hits with no errors and 11 left on base.
Johnson had three hits, including his first home run, to lead K-State offensively.
Ceballos, Goodwin and Kokoska all added two hits.
K-State went 6-for-18 with runners on base, 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position and 3-for-12 with two outs.
K-State finished with two extra-base hits.
Seymour took the loss and dropped to 1-2 after allowing five runs on eight hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in five innings of work.
Ford worked the final four innings, allowing one run on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
K-State left the bases loaded in both the seventh and eighth innings.

NOTES

The all-time series between K-State and New Mexico is now tied 9-9-1.
New Mexico has won two of three games between the teams this season.
Phillips is on a career-high 29-game on-base streak dating back to last season.
Thompson made his 202^nd consecutive start for K-State, good for sixth place in school history.
Phillips extended his hitting streak to nine games with hits in 27 of his last 29 games.
Kokoska has reached safely in each of his last 14 games.
K-State has 25 homers on the year, all coming in the last 14 games.
Coach Hughes sits one win shy of 700 career victories.

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Team Stats

Cole Johnson

Nick Goodwin

Zach Kokoska

Chris Ceballos

Players Mentioned

Chris Ceballos

Kasey Ford

Nick Goodwin

Cole Johnson

Zach Kokoska

Dylan Phillips

Carson Seymour

Players Mentioned

Chris Ceballos

Kasey Ford

Nick Goodwin

Cole Johnson

Zach Kokoska

Dylan Phillips

Carson Seymour

Kansas State University Athletics