Kansas State University Athletics
Friday, May 26
Arlington, Texas
3 p.m.
Kansas State University
35-23
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Fajardo, Culpepper Send Wildcats to Big 12 Semis
May 26, 2023 | Baseball
ARLINGTON, Texas – German Fajardo's nine strikeouts and Kaelen Culpepper's five-RBI led K-State to a 7-1 victory over in-state rival and eighth-seeded Kansas in an elimination game at the 2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championships at Globe Life Field.
No. 5 seed K-State (35-23) scored three of its seven runs in the second highlighted by Culpepper's game-winning three-run homer while Fajardo fanned a season-high nine batters during his 7 1/3 innings.
"That was just what you needed on day three of the tournament, an outstanding pitching performance and a lengthy start," said head coach Pete Hughes after the game. "That was the key to the entire game and German threw so well, he allowed us some time to build a lead."
"We got clutch hits from [Culpepper] all day, like his big three-run homer. It just gave us momentum and took pressure off the dugout. A three-run lead allows German to settle in and be more aggressive with his pitches," said Hughes.
K-State advances to the semifinal round of the Big 12 Championship for the third consecutive year. The Cats will take on fourth-seeded TCU Saturday and need to defeat the Horned Frogs twice to compete in Sunday's championship game.
"We played good defense and got the big hits which are what we needed from game three to save our bullpen. I would say everyone from our pen is available for tomorrow."
The Wildcats victory marks just the sixth 35-win season in school history and first since 2013.
Fajardo (4-4) picked up his first career postseason victory as the right-handed junior allowed just five hits and one earned run from Jake English's solo homer in the third. The Nogales, Ariz., product's nine strikeouts matched a program record for punch outs in a single conference tournament contest.
"That was a sampling of what we've gotten from [Fajardo] most of the year. The last two outings really didn't go his way where wasn't sharp in his commandment, but he's been consistent for us all year. He was outstanding today."
Culpepper, one of the top third basemen in Division I according to D1Baseball.com, went 3-for-4 with five RBI while Brady Day finished 2-for-3 with the duo each scoring a pair of runs. Culpepper also matched a program single conference tournament game record with his five RBI.
"I think [Culpepper] is the best defender in the country, and that's not over-talk. It's a highlight reel every single weekend. The above average play is made easy with him at third and to me it's the most difficult position to play in college baseball. The ball is on you quicker, and then you have to play the bunt game. He's as good as it gets."
Brendan Jones stole his 28th base of the season to become just the fifth Wildcat in program history to reach the single-season milestone.
The Wildcats left Kodey Shojinaga without a hit in the matchup as the Big 12 Co-Freshman of the Year entered the conference tournament with a .380 average and .418 in league action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fajardo fanned four of the first six batters he faced before allowing the Jayhawks first hit in the second.
Culpepper sparked a three-run third when he delivered the Cats' 76th blast, marking the third straight 75-plus home run season.
Nick Goodwin drew a four-pitch walk before moving to second on a hit through the left side by Brady Day until a wild pitch moved the duo into scoring position. Culpepper, who hit No. 6 in the lineup, launched his 10th homer of the year to take the go-ahead lead.
English scored KU's only run of the in-state matchup with a solo homer out to left field, but a classic 6-4-3 double play pulled K-State off the field to end the rally.
Kolby Dougan relieved starter Sam Ireland in the fourth where K-State took advantage of a pair of errors to expand its lead, 5-1.
With two-outs, Culpepper ripped a 1-1 pitch through the 5-6 hole to score the Cats' final two runs.
Fajardo retired the side in the fifth and sixth frames before K-State made a call to the pen to bring Blake Corsentino to the hill in the eighth.
A native of Ventura, Calif., Corsentino set down four straight batters until the KU recorded its sixth hit but a grounder to second put the game away sending the Cats to their third straight Big 12 semifinal game.
INSIDE THE BOX
K-State faces fourth-seeded TCU (35-22) Saturday at 9 a.m. in the semifinal round of the 2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship. The game can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Radio coverage can be heard on the K-State Sports Network with live audio streaming at K-StateSports.com/Watch.
No. 5 seed K-State (35-23) scored three of its seven runs in the second highlighted by Culpepper's game-winning three-run homer while Fajardo fanned a season-high nine batters during his 7 1/3 innings.
"That was just what you needed on day three of the tournament, an outstanding pitching performance and a lengthy start," said head coach Pete Hughes after the game. "That was the key to the entire game and German threw so well, he allowed us some time to build a lead."
"We got clutch hits from [Culpepper] all day, like his big three-run homer. It just gave us momentum and took pressure off the dugout. A three-run lead allows German to settle in and be more aggressive with his pitches," said Hughes.
K-State advances to the semifinal round of the Big 12 Championship for the third consecutive year. The Cats will take on fourth-seeded TCU Saturday and need to defeat the Horned Frogs twice to compete in Sunday's championship game.
"We played good defense and got the big hits which are what we needed from game three to save our bullpen. I would say everyone from our pen is available for tomorrow."
The Wildcats victory marks just the sixth 35-win season in school history and first since 2013.
Fajardo (4-4) picked up his first career postseason victory as the right-handed junior allowed just five hits and one earned run from Jake English's solo homer in the third. The Nogales, Ariz., product's nine strikeouts matched a program record for punch outs in a single conference tournament contest.
"That was a sampling of what we've gotten from [Fajardo] most of the year. The last two outings really didn't go his way where wasn't sharp in his commandment, but he's been consistent for us all year. He was outstanding today."
Culpepper, one of the top third basemen in Division I according to D1Baseball.com, went 3-for-4 with five RBI while Brady Day finished 2-for-3 with the duo each scoring a pair of runs. Culpepper also matched a program single conference tournament game record with his five RBI.
"I think [Culpepper] is the best defender in the country, and that's not over-talk. It's a highlight reel every single weekend. The above average play is made easy with him at third and to me it's the most difficult position to play in college baseball. The ball is on you quicker, and then you have to play the bunt game. He's as good as it gets."
Brendan Jones stole his 28th base of the season to become just the fifth Wildcat in program history to reach the single-season milestone.
The Wildcats left Kodey Shojinaga without a hit in the matchup as the Big 12 Co-Freshman of the Year entered the conference tournament with a .380 average and .418 in league action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fajardo fanned four of the first six batters he faced before allowing the Jayhawks first hit in the second.
Culpepper sparked a three-run third when he delivered the Cats' 76th blast, marking the third straight 75-plus home run season.
Nick Goodwin drew a four-pitch walk before moving to second on a hit through the left side by Brady Day until a wild pitch moved the duo into scoring position. Culpepper, who hit No. 6 in the lineup, launched his 10th homer of the year to take the go-ahead lead.
English scored KU's only run of the in-state matchup with a solo homer out to left field, but a classic 6-4-3 double play pulled K-State off the field to end the rally.
Kolby Dougan relieved starter Sam Ireland in the fourth where K-State took advantage of a pair of errors to expand its lead, 5-1.
With two-outs, Culpepper ripped a 1-1 pitch through the 5-6 hole to score the Cats' final two runs.
Fajardo retired the side in the fifth and sixth frames before K-State made a call to the pen to bring Blake Corsentino to the hill in the eighth.
A native of Ventura, Calif., Corsentino set down four straight batters until the KU recorded its sixth hit but a grounder to second put the game away sending the Cats to their third straight Big 12 semifinal game.
INSIDE THE BOX
- K-State scored seven runs on eight hits with one error and six left on base
- KU scored one run on a solo homer in the third
- Culpepper hit a three-run game-winning homer in the second
- Four players registered a hit with two hitting multiple
- Culpepper went 3-for-4 with five RBI and two runs
- Jones stole his 28th base of the season
- Jones reached base in three consecutive plate appearances with two walks
- Fajardo (4-4) picked up the win with a season-high nine strikeouts
- Corsentino tossed 1 2/3 innings in relief
- Fajardo threw a career-high 7 1/3 innings
- Ireland (4-7) received the loss in his three-inning outing
- KU's bullpen combined for four runs (two earned) seven strikeouts and three walks
- K-State rolled its 33rd and 34th double-play of the season
- K-State moves to 21-25 all-time in the Big 12 Championship tournament
- The Wildcats' victory marks the first 35+ win season since 2013; sixth overall
- Fajardo becomes fourth player to strikeout nine in a conference tournament game
- Cats face No. 4 seed TCU; fifth meeting between the Cats and Frogs this season
- Jones ranks fifth in single-season records with 28 stole bases
- K-State has recorded its third consecutive 76+ home run season; 2023 season ranks third all-time
- K-State leads the all-time series 187-177-1
- K-State is 6-3 in conference tournament action against KU; 3-1 in Big 12 Championship
- The Cats won their sixth straight game over the Jayhawks; moved to 4-0 in the season series
K-State faces fourth-seeded TCU (35-22) Saturday at 9 a.m. in the semifinal round of the 2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship. The game can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Radio coverage can be heard on the K-State Sports Network with live audio streaming at K-StateSports.com/Watch.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fajardo, German (4-4)
L: Ireland, Sam (4-7)
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Batting:
HR: English, Jake 1
RBI: English, Jake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: English, Jake 1
HBP: Jans, Chase 1 ; Cranford, Collier 1
Batting:
2B: Day, Brady 1
HR: Culpepper, Kaelen 1
RBI: Culpepper, Kaelen 5 ; Pena, Roberto 1
SF: Pena, Roberto 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Goodwin, Nick 2 ; Day, Brady 2 ; Culpepper, Kaelen 2 ; Johnson, Cole 1
SB: Jones, Brendan 1 ; Culpepper, Kaelen 1
CS: Jones, Brendan 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
5
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
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AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF
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