Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, April 9
Lubbock, Texas
2 p.m.
Kansas State University
15-15, 0
0
at
14
Texas Tech
26-8, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Kansas State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
2
Texas Tech
3
5
0
0
0
2
0
4
X
14
10
0
No. 4 Red Raiders Clinch Series Saturday
Apr 09, 2022 | Baseball
LUBBOCK, Texas – Brandon Birdsell yielded one hit and struck out 12 over six innings, leading fourth-ranked Texas Tech to a 14-0 win over K-State to clinch the weekend series at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park Saturday afternoon.
Birdsell stifled the K-State (15-15, 1-7 Big 12) offense, as the Wildcats were shut out for the first time this season. Birdsell struck out six straight Wildcat hitters at one point and did not allow a hit after Dylan Phillips' two-out single in the first inning.
Birdsell, a right-handed junior, retired 11 in a row in not allowing a baserunner in the second through fourth innings. K-State did not bring more than four to the plate in any frame against him and reached second base just twice.
Texas Tech (26-8, 6-2 Big 12) staked Birdsell with an eight-run lead after two innings. A Wildcat error with two outs in the first extended the frame and allowed Kurt Wilson to launch a three-run home run. Another miscue in the second inning contributed to a five-run second, as four of the Red Raiders' first eight runs were unearned.
"You've got to play fundamentally sound, especially on the road against these guys," head coach Pete Hughes said. "You can't get down eight runs after two on the road in this place – can't do it. The unfortunate thing, if we just make routine plays early on, maybe things play out differently. We've got to get back to fundamentals because we weren't very fundamentally sound today."
Blake Corsentino logged two innings in his third start, striking out one and walking one with seven hits allowed. In the second, Corsentino faced all nine TTU batters, giving up five runs on five hits. His final line saw eight runs (four earned) over two innings.
Christian Ruebeck settled things down over the next three innings, as he struck out four and did not allow a hit in that stretch. A leadoff single in the sixth along with a pair of walks led to two Red Raider runs.
Ruebeck finished with five walks and four strikeouts in his 3 2/3 innings of relief.
Phillips was responsible for two of K-State's three hits in the game, who equaled its season-low hit total. He was 2-for-4.
The Cats struck out a season-high 13 times, as Birdsell and Colin Clark combined for the shutout.
Five Wildcat pitchers combined to walk 11 and strike out seven. Corsentino suffered the loss and moved to 2-3 on the year.
Texas Tech scored four more runs in the eighth and were aided by four walks – two with the bases loaded – in addition to a hit batter with the bags full. TTU tallied multiple runs in four of eight inning it came to the plate.
Wilson totaled a game-high four RBI in a 3-for-3 effort. In addition to his homer, he registered on of Tech's four doubles.
Cole Stilwell and Zac Vooletich each produced two-hit games while eight Red Raiders recorded an RBI.
K-State moved a runner to second base just three times in the contest and went hitless with men on base (0-for-11).
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Texas Tech capitalized on a Wildcat error that extended the first inning, as Wilson connected on a three-run home run with two outs. Corsentino had retired the first two he faced before allowing Jace Jung to double with two outs while Ty Coleman reached on an error.
White led off the second with a solo homer, as the Red Raider offense erupted for five runs in the second run. Vooletich added an RBI single and Wilson drove in his fourth run of the contest with a two-out double.
Four walks and a hit batter contributed to TTU's four-run eighth and inflated its lead to 14 runs.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
UP NEXT
K-State and Texas Tech finish the three-game set Sunday at 12:30 p.m. The game can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Radio coverage can be heard on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM). Free, live audio is also available at K-StateSports.com/Watch.
Birdsell stifled the K-State (15-15, 1-7 Big 12) offense, as the Wildcats were shut out for the first time this season. Birdsell struck out six straight Wildcat hitters at one point and did not allow a hit after Dylan Phillips' two-out single in the first inning.
Birdsell, a right-handed junior, retired 11 in a row in not allowing a baserunner in the second through fourth innings. K-State did not bring more than four to the plate in any frame against him and reached second base just twice.
Texas Tech (26-8, 6-2 Big 12) staked Birdsell with an eight-run lead after two innings. A Wildcat error with two outs in the first extended the frame and allowed Kurt Wilson to launch a three-run home run. Another miscue in the second inning contributed to a five-run second, as four of the Red Raiders' first eight runs were unearned.
"You've got to play fundamentally sound, especially on the road against these guys," head coach Pete Hughes said. "You can't get down eight runs after two on the road in this place – can't do it. The unfortunate thing, if we just make routine plays early on, maybe things play out differently. We've got to get back to fundamentals because we weren't very fundamentally sound today."
Blake Corsentino logged two innings in his third start, striking out one and walking one with seven hits allowed. In the second, Corsentino faced all nine TTU batters, giving up five runs on five hits. His final line saw eight runs (four earned) over two innings.
Christian Ruebeck settled things down over the next three innings, as he struck out four and did not allow a hit in that stretch. A leadoff single in the sixth along with a pair of walks led to two Red Raider runs.
Ruebeck finished with five walks and four strikeouts in his 3 2/3 innings of relief.
Phillips was responsible for two of K-State's three hits in the game, who equaled its season-low hit total. He was 2-for-4.
The Cats struck out a season-high 13 times, as Birdsell and Colin Clark combined for the shutout.
Five Wildcat pitchers combined to walk 11 and strike out seven. Corsentino suffered the loss and moved to 2-3 on the year.
Texas Tech scored four more runs in the eighth and were aided by four walks – two with the bases loaded – in addition to a hit batter with the bags full. TTU tallied multiple runs in four of eight inning it came to the plate.
Wilson totaled a game-high four RBI in a 3-for-3 effort. In addition to his homer, he registered on of Tech's four doubles.
Cole Stilwell and Zac Vooletich each produced two-hit games while eight Red Raiders recorded an RBI.
K-State moved a runner to second base just three times in the contest and went hitless with men on base (0-for-11).
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Texas Tech capitalized on a Wildcat error that extended the first inning, as Wilson connected on a three-run home run with two outs. Corsentino had retired the first two he faced before allowing Jace Jung to double with two outs while Ty Coleman reached on an error.
White led off the second with a solo homer, as the Red Raider offense erupted for five runs in the second run. Vooletich added an RBI single and Wilson drove in his fourth run of the contest with a two-out double.
Four walks and a hit batter contributed to TTU's four-run eighth and inflated its lead to 14 runs.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State scored no runs on three hits with two errors and left six on base.
- Texas Tech scored 14 runs on 10 hits, committed no errors and stranded nine baserunners.
- The Wildcats were shut out for the first time this season and equaled its lowest hit total.
- Phillips accounted for two of the Cats' two hits.
- K-State struck out a season-high 13 times.
- TTU scored multiple runs in four of eight innings it came to bat.
- Five Wildcat pitchers combined to walk 11 and a batter.
- Birdsell struck out a dozen over six innings, allowing one hit and three walks.
- Wilson drove in a game-high four runs, going 3-for-3 with a three-run homer.
- White also homered for the Red Raiders.
- The Cats went 0-for-11 with men on base and 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.
- K-State reached second base just three times in the game.
- Texas Tech leads the all-time series 48-31-1 (40-28-1 Big 12).
- K-State is 8-26-1 on the road against the Red Raiders, last winning in 2012.
- TTU marks the third straight top-20 opponent and second straight in the top 10 K-State has faced.
- K-State is 1-8 against ranked teams this season and 1-5 against the top 10.
UP NEXT
K-State and Texas Tech finish the three-game set Sunday at 12:30 p.m. The game can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Radio coverage can be heard on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM). Free, live audio is also available at K-StateSports.com/Watch.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Brandon Birdsell (5-1)
L: Corsentino, Blake (2-3)
S: Colin Clark (1)
Base Running:
SB: Phillips, Dylan 1
Batting:
2B: Cole Stilwell 1 ; Jace Jung 1 ; Kurt Wilson 1 ; Parker Kelly 1
HR: Kurt Wilson 1 ; Hudson White 1
RBI: Zac Vooletich 1 ; Jace Jung 1 ; Ty Coleman 1 ; Kurt Wilson 4 ; Owen Washburn 1 ; Hudson White 1 ; Parker Kelly 1 ; Sam Hunt 1
SF: Jace Jung 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zac Vooletich 1 ; Cole Stilwell 3 ; Jace Jung 3 ; Ty Coleman 2 ; Kurt Wilson 2 ; Owen Washburn 1 ; Hudson White 1 ; Parker Kelly 1
HBP: Sam Hunt 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
1
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
K-State BSB | Postgame Press Conference vs Texas
Sunday, June 01
K-State Baseball | Game Highlights vs Houston Christian (Austin Regional)
Sunday, June 01
K-State BSB | Game Highlights vs Houston Christian (Austin Regional)
Saturday, May 31
K-State BSB | Postgame Press Conference vs Houston Christian
Saturday, May 31