Guyette Shuts Down TTU, K-State Clinches Series

MANHATTAN, Kan. – For the first time in 125 years of K-State baseball, the Wildcats are off to a 7-1 start in league action after dealing Texas Tech a 6-3 loss Saturday afternoon at Tointon Family Stadium. The victory clinched the Big 12 series and marked the Cats' ninth consecutive win at home.

Trailing 5-0, Texas Tech (8-15, 4-4 Big 12) pulled within two with a pair of solo home runs and RBI double in the fifth forcing K-State to make a call to the bullpen. James Guyette relieved starter Michael Quevedo and allowed a hit to the first batter he faced.

With one out and runners on first and second, the defense rolled a crucial and unconventional 5-4-3-2 double play to defend the lead and secure K-State's (18-8, 7-1 Big 12) fourth series win of the season.

"Guyette is just a super talented kid," sad head coach Pete Hughes, who boasts a 97-30 home record since 2020. "He's a ground ball machine. We get that double play ball, which we should have turned it traditionally, but we had a heads up play in the back end with Seth Dardar at first to make the play at home, and that was the turning point. It completely shifted momentum in the game."

"No question, the turning point was that play and bringing in Guyette, he was a lot for them to handle, and he executed a lot of pitches against a really good offense," added Hughes.

Guyette (2-1) tossed 4 2/3 innings of one-hit ball, wrapping up his 10^th relief outing of the season with four strikeouts and one walk.

With the win, K-State clinched its sixth straight Big 12 series dating back to last season while the Cats' perfect 9-0 record at Tointon Family Stadium marks the best start at home since 2014.

Four Wildcats produced a hit, led by multi-hit days from AJ Evasco and Keegan O'Connor. The duo combined for four of the Cats' six RBI, while Dee Kennedy and Evasco each homered.

The Wildcats have registered a home run in 10 consecutive games, totaling 21 in the stretch. On the year, K-State ranks second in the Big 12 with 48 homers.

Quevedo was spotted for three earned runs in his 4 1/3 innings, compiling a game-high six strikeouts.

TTU starter Tyler Boudreau (1-1) was tagged for the loss, surrendering five earned runs in four hits in his 2 2/3 inning start. Jack Cebert and Logan Bevis

HOW IT HAPPENED
Quevedo gave up a double to Damian Bravo and hit a batter, before a double steal moved runners in to scoring position. The left-hander locked in and used eight pitches to punch out a pair of Red Raiders, getting out of the jam.

In the bottom of the opening frame, Kennedy wasted no time putting the Cats on the board, as the sophomore leadoff with his fourth homer of the season.

The Wildcats used three hits in the third to extend their lead, 5-0. With one out, an RBI single from Evasco and sacrifice fly to center by Dardar forced TTU to make the first pitching change of the game. Keegan O'Connor delivered his 11^th two-out hit of the season to stretch the lead to five.

Quevedo carried a one-hitter into the fourth, before Logan Hughes and Garet Boehm each launched a solo shot to snap the shutout.

Guyette relieved Quevedo in the fifth, inheriting a runner on second with one out. The sophomore righty retired 14 of the 17 batters he faced, including striking out the side in the eighth.

Leading 5-3 in the fifth, Evasco tacked on the final run of the game with his leadoff solo shot to opposite field – marking the Cats' 16^th multi-home run game.

INSIDE THE BOX

K-State scored six runs on six hits with one error committed and five runners left on base.
TTU was held to three runs on six hits, committed one error and stranded seven on base.
Evasco and Kennedy each homered.
Guyette (2-1) was awarded the victory, firing 4 2/3 scoreless innings in relief with four strikeouts.
Quevedo surrendered three earned runs in 4 1/3 inning start, allowing five hits with a game-high six strikeouts.
Four players recorded a hit for K-State.
Evasco and O'Connor each had two hits and two RBI.
Boudreau (1-1) was tagged for the loss, surrendering five earned runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings.

TEAM NOTES

For the first time in 125-years of K-State baseball, the Wildcats are 7-1 to start conference play.
The Wildcats are off to a 9-0 start at home for the first time since 2014.
K-State is 4-0 in weekend series this season.
With the win, K-State clinched its sixth straight series at home, while it secures the sixth consecutive Big 12 series overall dating back to last season.
K-State has homered in 10 straight games, totaling 21 in the stretch – ranks second in the Big 12 with 48 total home runs.
TTU leads the all-time series 51-36-1, with a 43-32-1 lead in Big 12 play.
K-State is 23-18 when playing at home against TTU.
Under Hughes, K-State is 9-9 vs. TTU.
K-State stands alone atop of the Big 12 standings.

PLAYER NOTES

Evasco hit his fifth homer of the year and Kennedy his fourth.
O'Connor stretched his on-base streak to 18, followed by Evasco (17).
O'Connor has recorded a team-high 15 two-out RBI.
Guyette logged a career-high 4 2/3 innings and matched a career-best four strikeouts.

UP NEXT
The series finale is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch at Tointon Family Stadium and can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. K-State baseball single-game tickets are 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

AJ Evasco

Keegan O'Connor

Dee Kennedy

Shintaro Inoue

Players Mentioned

Seth Dardar

AJ Evasco

James Guyette

Dee Kennedy

Keegan O'Connor

Michael Quevedo

Players Mentioned

Seth Dardar

AJ Evasco

James Guyette

Dee Kennedy

Keegan O'Connor

Michael Quevedo

Kansas State University Athletics