Wicks Dominant as Cats Knock Off No. 5 Horned Frogs

MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State starting pitcher Jordan Wicks went a season-long 7 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts in picking up a 4-2 victory over fifth-ranked TCU in Thursday night's series opener at Tointon Family Stadium.

Wicks scattered five hits and allowed just two earned runs before giving way to Eric Torres, whose four-out save included four strikeouts. The Wildcats (30-20, 9-13 Big 12) earned their third win over a top-five team this season, marking the first time since 2009 they have upended two different top-five opponents (Texas Tech).

Cameron Thompson and Terrence Spurlin launched back-to-back home runs in the fourth, breaking a 1-1 tie, in propelling K-State to its first 30-win season since 2013.

"Good to be back home, that's for sure, and to be able to take advantage of that and take advantage of a tremendous starting pitching outing by Jordan Wicks," said head coach Pete Hughes after the game. "Just happy to play with energy and play efficiently in front of our home crowd."

Wicks went on to retire seven straight TCU hitters after allowing an RBI single to Gray Rodgers in the second inning. After yielding a second RBI single to Rodgers in the fifth, the sophomore lefty sat down the next nine Horned Frogs he saw.

"There is no moment big enough for that kid and to do it against a quality opponent," Hughes said of Wicks. "Really dominant with four different pitches. He didn't want to come out of the game, but that's just how he is. He loves pitching in front of this crowd and for this university."

Wicks struck out the side in order in the third, capping a string of four straight strikeouts. The Conway, Arkansas, product moved into second place on K-State's all-time strikeout list with 221 in his career. He is just three strikeouts shy of becoming the Wildcats' strikeout king.

"I think he might have sealed his fate come July. That's how good he was," Hughes laughed in reference to the upcoming MLB Draft.

"It's definitely the outing where I had the best of all my pitches," said Wicks, in what is likely his final start at Tointon Family Stadium. "I felt like I could throw all four pitches for a strike tonight, which I think was the difference. Just being more consistent in the zone with the slider and more consistent in the zone with the curve ball. Having the changeup tonight was big too."

Kamron Willman's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the second answered Rodgers' two-out RBI single in the top half of the frame. Willman brought home Thompson, who reached after being hit by a pitch, to even the score at a run apiece.

Thompson and Spurlin went back-to-back with two outs in the fourth off TCU starter Russell Smith. Thompson connected on his 12^th bomb of the year and Spurlin his fourth. It was the third time K-State has gone back-to-back this season.

K-State again immediately answered a TCU (35-15, 16-6 Big 12) run in the fifth. Rodgers, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI, brought the Frogs within a run after he singled on an 0-2 pitch to score Phillips Sikes.

Zach Kokoska singled, stole second and ran home on a single from Caleb Littlejim and a fielding error, pushing the Wildcat lead back to two runs.

All four Wildcat runs were credited to Smith, who left the game after 4 2/3 innings. Smith gave up six hits to go with six strikeouts with his record dipping to 6-3.

Torres' scoreless streak now sits at 17 innings after his second career save. The southpaw has not surrendered a run over his last nine relief appearances, with 24 strikeouts and two walks in that stretch.

Three of K-State's four runs came with two outs, as the Wildcats hit .364 (4-for-11) with two gone. Wicks and Torres limited the Frogs to .182 (2-for-11) with two outs.

Spurlin and Thompson produced the Wildcats' only multi-hit games Thursday, both registering a pair of hits. The duo's homers were the Cats lone extra-base hits of the contest.

TCU relievers Jacob Meador and River Ridings combined to throw 3 1/3 scoreless frames. Each struck out two with Meador not allowing a hit over two frames.

The Wildcats and Horned Frogs continue the three-game set starting Friday night at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Radio coverage will be available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) with live, free audio streaming at K-StateSports.com/watch.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

K-State scored four runs on eight hits with one error and six left on base.
TCU scored two runs on six hits with three errors and five left on base.
Thompson and Spurlin hit back-to-back homers in the fourth inning.
It marked the third time this season Wildcat teammates have gone back-to-back.
Thompson has 12 homers this season and 21 in his K-State career.
Spurlin has four homers this year and 13 in his K-State career.
Spurlin and Thompson each had two-hit performances.
Willman also drove in a run for the Cats.
Wicks (6-3) worked a season-high 7 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs and five hits with a pair of walks and seven strikeouts.
Torres picked up his first save of the season, working the final 1 1/3 innings and allowing just one hit with four strikeouts.
Torres extended his scoreless streak to 17 innings (nine appearances).
The Cats were 4-for-11 with two outs and 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

NOTES

K-State has its first 30-win season since 2013.
The Cats are 23-6 at home this season.
Thompson made his 234th consecutive start and is second in career starts in K-State history.
The Cats now have 80 homers on the season, adding to their single-season home run record.
K-State has multiple homers in 18 games this season.
Wicks improved his single-season strikeout record to 109.
Wicks is now second in career strikeouts with 221. He needs three more to break the record, which is held by Andy Replogle with 223 from 1973-75.
Wicks has at least five strikeouts in 12 of his 14 starts this year.
TCU leads the all-time series 20-10 (15-7 Big 12).
K-State has a 7-6 advantage over TCU in games played in Manhattan.
The K-State pitching staff has a combined 474 strikeouts, most ever in a single season.

Cats Win 😼#KStateBSB pic.twitter.com/IsQhyt7ADn
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) May 21, 2021

Rub a dub dub 😸#KStateBSB x EMAW pic.twitter.com/8vrYeEAxKg
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) May 21, 2021

Tip of the 🧢

7.2 IP, 7 K, 2 ER, 5 H #KStateBSB x @wicks_jordan pic.twitter.com/7JrbtSuRCW
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) May 21, 2021

Wicksy feelin' it 🔥

7 IP, 7 K, 3 H and retired the last 9 #KStateBSB pic.twitter.com/Zetulbaspe
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) May 21, 2021

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Team Stats

Cameron Thompson

Terrence Spurlin

Zach Kokoska

Caleb Littlejim

Players Mentioned

Zach Kokoska

Caleb Littlejim

Terrence Spurlin

Cameron Thompson

Eric Torres

Jordan Wicks

Kamron Willman

Players Mentioned

Zach Kokoska

Caleb Littlejim

Terrence Spurlin

Cameron Thompson

Eric Torres

Jordan Wicks

Kamron Willman

Kansas State University Athletics