Cats Mash Past Bears to Secure Series Win

WACO, Texas – K-State secured a road series win at Baylor for the third time in program history, as the Wildcats produced 16 hits and dealt the Bears a 14-4 loss on Saturday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark.

With the win, K-State (15-7, 5-0 Big 12) tied its best conference start in program history, first achieved in 1990 during Big Eight play. The Wildcats also extended their season-high winning streak to six, remaining the only undefeated team in conference action.

"It's always great to win a road series, they don't come very often," head coach Pete Hughes said. "They're hard to get in the Big 12. So that was a critical win for our program."

The Wildcats had a 4-1 lead after three frames, before plating 10 runs over a five-inning span to secure their first road series win against the Bears (15-7, 1-4 Big 12) since 2017 and first Big 12 road series of the season.

"Again, we got a really good start from Michael Quevedo. He limited the extra-base hits and didn't beat himself. Pitched very well and pitched out of some jams, and then we had production from top to bottom in our lineup, and had a big day from Dee Kennedy," Hughes added.

After surrendering a leadoff solo home run in the first, Quevedo carried a two-hitter into the sixth inning without allowing a runner to reach scoring position. A transfer from Nicholls State, Quevedo moved to 4-0 on the year as he held the Bears to three earned runs on five hits in his 5 1/3 innings of work. The left-hander ended his sixth consecutive start with a game-high six strikeouts.

Ten different Wildcats contributed a hit in the victory, with four turning in multi-hit efforts. Kennedy and Maximus Martin registered three-hit days, with Kennedy (3-for-4) launching a three-run homer in the eighth. The sophomore from Forth Worth, Texas finished the day with three RBI and scored three runs.

"Overall, I thought our kids played nine innings of baseball. I couldn't say they did that on Friday night, but I'm glad we played one through nine, finished the game, and got the series win. Now it's time to set our goals for a game three win on Sunday."

Baylor's Bryson Bales suffered the loss and moved to 1-2 on the year, after allowing four earned runs on three hits in his 1 2/3 innings.

K-State hit .412 (7-for-17) with runners in scoring position and went 8-for-17 (.471) with two outs, including driving in five two-out RBI.

K-State has won 11 of its last 13 games, as the Wildcats clinched their fourth consecutive three-game series.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Baylor's Jack Little blasted a solo shot in the opening frame to hand the Bears a 1-0 lead, until the Wildcats quickly answered, spotting the Bears pitching staff for four runs on four hits.

Catcher Bear Madliak singled through the left side and moved to scoring position after Seth Dardar was issued a walk. David Bishop dropped a sacrifice bunt to the right side to move both runners into scoring position.

With one out, freshman Donte Lewis delivered a two-out single into no man's land in right center, scoring Madliak and Dardar.

Baylor made its first call to the bullpen with right-hander Lucas Davenport inheriting runners on first and third. A passed ball allowed Lewis to easily score before Martin single to expand the Cats' lead to three, 4-1, and drive in his 32^nd RBI of the season.

The Wildcats tacked on a pair of runs in the fourth, as O'Connor drove in two runs after doubling off the wall in center field.

Leading 6-1, Bishop belted a solo shot into left field to turn in the Cats' sixth consecutive game with a home run.

After four scoreless innings, Baylor broke through with a pair of runs to bridge the gap to five, 8-3.

The Wildcats quickly recovered the two runs handed over in the sixth, scoring three runs in the seventh and eighth and reach double figure runs for the eighth time this season.

INSIDE THE BOX

K-Scored 14 runs on 16 hits, committed one error and stranded 11 on base.
Baylor scored four runs on nine hits and committed one error while leaving six runners on base.
10 different Cats generated a hit with four turning in multi-hit efforts.
Kennedy went 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored, followed by Martin (3-for-6).
Bishop and Kennedy each homered.
K-State scored at least one run in six innings, and scored 3+ in the second, seventh and eighth.
Quevedo (4-0) was awarded the win, surrendering three earned runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks in his 5 1/3 innings.
Smith and Arther combined for five strikeouts and 3 2/3 innings in relief of Quevedo, with Smith surrendering the final run.
Bales (1-2) was credited with the loss, allowing four earned runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings.
K-State hit .412 (7-for-17) with runners in scoring position and went 8-for-17 (.471) with two outs, including driving in five two-out RBI.
BU was 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position and hit .222 (2-for-9) with two outs.

TEAM NOTES

Saturday's game marked the 90^th meeting between the two squads.
K-State secured a road series win at Baylor for just the third time in school history.
With the win, K-State matched a program-best 5-0 start (1990), while it is the first 5-0 start in Big 12 play in school history.
The Cats expanded their winning streak to a season-high six.
K-State is the only undefeated team remaining in league action.
The Wildcats secured their first road series against the Bears since 2017 and first Big 12 road series of the season.
K-State has won 11 of its last 13 games.
Baylor leads the all-time series 55-35, with a 51-29 advantage in Big 12 games.
In games played in Waco, K-State is 13-33 with five wins coming in the last 10 contests.
K-State has registered a home run in 13 of its last 14 games, totaling 33 in the stretch.
In the second, K-State produced its 16^th inning with four or more runs.
Cats are 13-1 when generating 4+ runs in an inning during a game.

PLAYER NOTES

Kennedy hit in the leadoff for the fourth time of the season (2-2).
Two players continued to stretch their hitting streaks – Evasco (13), O'Connor (12).
O'Connor has successfully reached base in 14 consecutive games, while Kennedy and Evasco have reached in 13.
Martin drove in his team-leading 33^rd RBI with a single in the seventh.
O'Connor leads the team with 13 two-out RBI.

UP NEXT
The series finale is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch at Baylor Ballpark and will broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Radio coverage is available on KMAN online with Matt Walters calling all the action, while a free live streaming audio available for all games at KStateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app.

K-State baseball season and single-game tickets are now available, and can be purchased by visiting KStateSports.com, call 1-800-221-CATS (2287), or stopping by the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.

– k-statesports.com –

How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Baseball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.

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Team Stats

Dee Kennedy

Maximus Martin

Keegan O'Connor

Donte Lewis

Players Mentioned

David Bishop

Seth Dardar

Dee Kennedy

Donte Lewis

Bear Madliak

Maximus Martin

Michael Quevedo

Players Mentioned

David Bishop

Seth Dardar

Dee Kennedy

Donte Lewis

Bear Madliak

Maximus Martin

Michael Quevedo

Kansas State University Athletics