Cats Walk Off TTU to Stay Perfect at Home

Sunday, March 30

Manhattan, Kan.

1 p.m.

Kansas State University

19-8, 0

Texas Tech

8-16, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Texas Tech	2	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	4	12	0
Kansas State	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	3	5	7	0

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Mar 30, 2025 | Baseball

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MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State completed the series sweep of Texas Tech on Sunday afternoon, as Shintaro Inoue's two-run walk-off single lifted the Wildcats to a 5-4 victory at Tointon Family Stadium.

"I love seeing our kids play at a high level and pressure situation," stated head coach Pete Hughes on his team's third Big 12 series win of the year. "The greatest thing a coach can do is watch that. It means they're prepared, they have confidence in their preparation, and they have a strong foundation. So that was awesome."

The Wildcats (19-8, 8-1 Big 12) trailed 4-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Catcher Bear Madliak doubled to right field before a hit by pitch and clutch RBI-single from pinch hitter Sam Flores brought the game within one.

Dee Kennedy was hit by a pitch to load the bases and force TTU (8-16, 4-5 Big 12) to make a call to the bullpen. With no outs and bases loaded, Inoue laced a 2-2 pitch pass the diving efforts of the Red Raiders' second baseman to plate the tying- and game-winning runs, handing Wildcats their 10^th consecutive victory at home.

"Our bullpen really saved the day, specifically our two seniors, Ty Ruhl and JJ Slack. I'm just happy for guys like Sam Flores, who hasn't played a whole lot of baseball this spring, but his mindset has never left the 'team first'. He's never caught up in himself. He puts himself in a really good place mentally when we call his number. Who knows when we're going to do it, but we did today, and he was ready. So, a heck of a role model for our younger players. It's just fun putting yourself in a situation in the ninth inning where you get a chance to win a game and sweep the series. It was a fun day."

K-State utilized five pitchers in the win with Ruhl and Slack combining for 5 1/3 shutout innings in relief. Slack (1-2), who was awarded his first win of the season, struck out five of the seven batters he faced. The left-hander issued one walk before he struck out the side in the ninth, building momentum heading into the final frame.

Keegan O'Connor, who led the weekend with a .455 average (5-for-11), finished the day 2-for-3 with a double and his second home run of the series. In addition to O'Connor, Inoue also produced a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-4. The duo combined for four of the Wildcats' five RBI.

With the win, the Wildcats recorded their third sweep over Texas Tech in program history and first since 2013. The victory also marks K-State's second consecutive 19-8 start.

K-State hit .277 (26-for-94) in its third straight home series win against TTU, registering six doubles and six home runs. The Wildcats slugged .532 overall and hit .320 (8-for-25) with runners in scoring position with five two-out RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED
TTU plated three runs in a three-inning span, led by a two-run blast by first baseman Robin Villeneuve in the first.

The Red Raiders threatened to expand their lead after loading the bases with no outs, but reliever Ty Ruhl retired three straight batters to keep the game within three.

O'Connor ended TTU starter Zane Petty's no-hit bid in the fourth, doubling into right center and avoiding the diving efforts of the Red Raiders' center fielder.

After five scoreless innings, the Wildcats broke through with a two-run blast from O'Connor, making it a 3-2 ballgame.

TTU recovered one of the runs handed over in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single.

Trailing 4-2 in the eighth, Slack took the mound and inherited runners on first and second. The left-hander fanned the first two batters he faced before forcing a grounder to second and retired the Red Raiders in order.

Behind scoreless ninth from Slack, Madliak doubled into right field before Kyan Lodice was clipped to put runners on first and second. Pinch hitter Sam Flores lined a singled to the wall in right field to bring the game within one.

Down 4-3 with no outs, Kennedy was hit by a pitch to load the bases and force TTU to make a pitching change. Facing reliever Zach Crotchfelt, Inoue drove a 2-2 pitch pass the second baseman to score a pair of runs and complete the series sweep.

INSIDE THE BOX

K-State scored five runs on seven hits with no errors committed and nine runners left on base.
TTU scored four runs on 12 hits, committed no errors and stranded 13 on base.
Inoue delivered the game-winning hit with a two-run single through the right side in the ninth.
O'Connor doubled in the fourth to break a no-hit bid and homered in the sixth to end the shutout.
Inoue and O'Connor each had two hits and drove in a pair of RBI.
K-State utilized five pitchers in the win.
Slack (1-2) was awarded the victory in relief, striking out five of the seven batters he faced.
Ruhl logged a team-high 3 1/3 innings, leaving TTU scoreless with five hits.
Parish (0-4) suffered the loss, allowing four earned runs in his 2 2/3 innings in relief.
Petty held the Cats to one run and two hits in his 5 1/3 inning start.

TEAM NOTES

The Wildcats are off to a 10-0 start at home for the first time since 2014.
K-State recorded its third sweep of the season – second in Big 12 action.
With the win, K-State recorded the program's third-ever sweep over TTU (2011, 2013, 2025).
The win marked the Cats' third come-from-behind victory of the year and fourth walk-off victory.
K-State has homered in 11 straight games, totaling 22 in the stretch – ranks second in the Big 12 with 49 total home runs.
TTU leads the all-time series 51-37-1, with a 43-33-1 lead in Big 12 play.
K-State is 24-18 when playing at home against TTU.
Under Hughes, K-State is 10-9 vs. TTU.

PLAYER NOTES

O'Connor hit his eighth homer and stretched his on-base streak to 19.
Evasco has reached safely in 18 straight games.

Inoue delivered his first game-winning RBI when the Cats' trailed.

UP NEXT
K-State will face in-state rival Wichita State (10-17) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Eck Stadium, before returning to conference play for a three-game series at Oklahoma State (12-13, 1-6 Big 12), starting Friday. 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 –

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