Kansas State University Athletics
Friday, May 9
Manhattan, Kan.
6 p.m.
Kansas State University
29-20, 0
8
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7
West Virginia
39-9, 0
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5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
West Virginia
0
0
0
3
1
0
0
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1
7
11
1
Kansas State
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
6
8
13
1
Late-Inning Surge Lifts Wildcats Over No. 12 West Virginia
May 10, 2025 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Keegan O'Connor delivered a walk-off single to complete the Wildcats' dramatic comeback victory Friday night, as K-State erased a five-run deficit in the ninth inning to edge 12th-ranked West Virginia, 8-7, at Tointon Family Stadium.
The Mountaineers (39-9, 18-5 Big 12), ranked 12th by D1Baseball, jumped out to a 4-0 lead before stretching their lead to five after scoring three runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Trailing 7-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, K-State (29-20, 15-10 Big 12) sent 10 batters to the plate and erupted for five runs before O'Connor's game-winning hit sealed a walk-off victory, handing the Wildcats their fourth Top 25 win of the season.
"Well, that was fun," said head coach Pete Hughes after the game. "That's why we all came here, the players, our staff, to win games like that in front of our community, to have a distinct home field advantage."
"We had every single guy on our team who hit that inning have that mentality and allowed us to win the last at bat," Hughes added.
O'Connor, the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, led off the Wildcats ninth-inning rally with his 16th homer – a 354-foot shot over the left field wall – tying the program's single-season record. With his 16th blast of the year, O'Connor is the fourth player to achieve the milestone, joining former Wildcats Heath Schesser (1997), Scott Poepard (1997) and career-home run record holder Dylan Phillips (2021).
"Jacob Frost allowed us to do that too. He got hit around a little bit, and by a good offensive team, but he didn't panic, and he damage-controlled that outing and gave his teammates a chance to win the game in the ninth," Hughes added.
In his 12th start of the season, Frost retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced, including striking out five. The St. Louis, Mo., product capped his 6 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts against an offense that averaged just 6.8 per game before handing the ball over to Ty Ruhl. The reliever finished the game and was awarded the win, improving to 3-2 on the year.
Eight different players contributed a hit in the victory, with four recording multi-hit efforts. Sophomore Dee Kennedy went 3-for-4 to pace the Wildcats' offense, producing his 17th game with multiple hits, a team high. In addition to O'Connor, catcher Bear Madliak drove in a pair of runs, going 2-for-4 with a home run and single.
With homers by Madliak and O'Connor, the Wildcats are one short of tying a program-record 89 set in 2021.
The comeback victory, which marked the 50th under Hughes, is the largest come-from-behind win since March 28, 2023 where the Wildcats trailed 9-4 after six innings against Air Force before rallying for eight unanswered runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After three scoreless innings, West Virginia broke through with three runs on four straight hits, highlighted by a two-run homer from right fielder Jace Rinehart.
K-State's best scoring opportunity came in the fifth, as Kennedy tripled into right-center and avoided the diving efforts of WVU's centerfielder to lead off the inning. AJ Evasco was hit by a pitch in the next at bat to position the Wildcats on first and third, but momentum was snapped with a strikeout and the Mountaineers' fourth double play of the game.
Ruhl took over for Frost, inheriting runners on first and third. On the second pitch from the reliever, the Wildcat defense caught the runner attempting to steal home to get out of the inning.
In the seventh, Evasco doubled off the wall in left center to kick off a two-out rally, as Madliak immediately followed with his eighth homer of the year to pull the score within two, 4-2.
WVU quickly recovered the runs handed over in the seventh, scoring three runs over the eighth and ninth innings.
Down 7-2 entering the final frame, O'Connor led off the Wildcats' six-run rally with his 16th blast of the year. Five consecutive batters reached base with hits by Seth Dardar, Kennedy, Evasco and pinch hitter Sam Flores that bridged the gap to one.
A wild pitch and a walk to Shintaro Inoue loaded the bases before pinch hitter Ty Smolinski drove in the tying-run with a high chopper to third. The Mountaineers loaded the bases once more after intentionally walking Maximus Martin, a Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List selection.
With one out, O'Connor laced a 1-2 pitch to right field to complete the comeback victory and capture the series opener.
INSIDE THE BOX
Game two between the Wildcats and Mountaineers is slated for a 4 p.m. first pitch at Tointon Family Stadium. In Sunday's home finale, which is slated for 1 p.m., the Wildcats will honor eight players and three staff members for Senior Day. The three-game conference set will broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
– 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.
The Mountaineers (39-9, 18-5 Big 12), ranked 12th by D1Baseball, jumped out to a 4-0 lead before stretching their lead to five after scoring three runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Trailing 7-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, K-State (29-20, 15-10 Big 12) sent 10 batters to the plate and erupted for five runs before O'Connor's game-winning hit sealed a walk-off victory, handing the Wildcats their fourth Top 25 win of the season.
"Well, that was fun," said head coach Pete Hughes after the game. "That's why we all came here, the players, our staff, to win games like that in front of our community, to have a distinct home field advantage."
"We had every single guy on our team who hit that inning have that mentality and allowed us to win the last at bat," Hughes added.
O'Connor, the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, led off the Wildcats ninth-inning rally with his 16th homer – a 354-foot shot over the left field wall – tying the program's single-season record. With his 16th blast of the year, O'Connor is the fourth player to achieve the milestone, joining former Wildcats Heath Schesser (1997), Scott Poepard (1997) and career-home run record holder Dylan Phillips (2021).
"Jacob Frost allowed us to do that too. He got hit around a little bit, and by a good offensive team, but he didn't panic, and he damage-controlled that outing and gave his teammates a chance to win the game in the ninth," Hughes added.
In his 12th start of the season, Frost retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced, including striking out five. The St. Louis, Mo., product capped his 6 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts against an offense that averaged just 6.8 per game before handing the ball over to Ty Ruhl. The reliever finished the game and was awarded the win, improving to 3-2 on the year.
Eight different players contributed a hit in the victory, with four recording multi-hit efforts. Sophomore Dee Kennedy went 3-for-4 to pace the Wildcats' offense, producing his 17th game with multiple hits, a team high. In addition to O'Connor, catcher Bear Madliak drove in a pair of runs, going 2-for-4 with a home run and single.
With homers by Madliak and O'Connor, the Wildcats are one short of tying a program-record 89 set in 2021.
The comeback victory, which marked the 50th under Hughes, is the largest come-from-behind win since March 28, 2023 where the Wildcats trailed 9-4 after six innings against Air Force before rallying for eight unanswered runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After three scoreless innings, West Virginia broke through with three runs on four straight hits, highlighted by a two-run homer from right fielder Jace Rinehart.
K-State's best scoring opportunity came in the fifth, as Kennedy tripled into right-center and avoided the diving efforts of WVU's centerfielder to lead off the inning. AJ Evasco was hit by a pitch in the next at bat to position the Wildcats on first and third, but momentum was snapped with a strikeout and the Mountaineers' fourth double play of the game.
Ruhl took over for Frost, inheriting runners on first and third. On the second pitch from the reliever, the Wildcat defense caught the runner attempting to steal home to get out of the inning.
In the seventh, Evasco doubled off the wall in left center to kick off a two-out rally, as Madliak immediately followed with his eighth homer of the year to pull the score within two, 4-2.
WVU quickly recovered the runs handed over in the seventh, scoring three runs over the eighth and ninth innings.
Down 7-2 entering the final frame, O'Connor led off the Wildcats' six-run rally with his 16th blast of the year. Five consecutive batters reached base with hits by Seth Dardar, Kennedy, Evasco and pinch hitter Sam Flores that bridged the gap to one.
A wild pitch and a walk to Shintaro Inoue loaded the bases before pinch hitter Ty Smolinski drove in the tying-run with a high chopper to third. The Mountaineers loaded the bases once more after intentionally walking Maximus Martin, a Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List selection.
With one out, O'Connor laced a 1-2 pitch to right field to complete the comeback victory and capture the series opener.
INSIDE THE BOX
- K-State scored eight runs on 13 hits, committed one error and stranded four runners on base.
- West Virginia scored seven runs on 11 hits with one error committed and stranding five on base.
- O'Connor homered to lead off the Cats' six-run ninth inning and delivered the game-winning hit.
- Eight players contributed a hit in the victory with four players hitting multiple led by Kennedy going 3-for-4.
- O'Connor and Madliak each drove in two RBI.
- Frost logged 6 2/3 innings, surrendering four earned runs on nine hits and striking out nine.
- Ruhl (3-2) was awarded the victory, throwing the final 2 1/3 innings.
- WVU matched a program-record five double plays in the nightcap.
- Estridge suffered the loss, surrendering two runs on two hits (3-1).
- K-State hit .364 (4-for-11) with runners in scoring position and .400 (4-for-10) with two outs, scoring two runs with two away.
- K-State improves to 16-20 in the all-time series with a 14-20 record in Big 12 games.
- With the win, the Wildcats move to 10-9 against the Mountaineers in games played in Manhattan.
- This season, the Wildcats own a conference-best 17-2 home record.
- O'Connor became the fourth player in school history to send out 16 homers in a single-season – tying the program record.
- K-State has launched 88 homers in 2025 – ranking second in school history and in the Big 12 this year.
- Under Hughes, K-State has turned in five of the top six seasons in terms of home run production.
- The victory marked the sixth walk-off of the year and fifth come-from-behind victory.
- K-State overcame its largest deficit this season when trailing after the sixth inning.
- This season, K-State is 4-2 against nationally ranked opponents, including a 2-2 mark vs. teams ranked by D1Baseball.
Game two between the Wildcats and Mountaineers is slated for a 4 p.m. first pitch at Tointon Family Stadium. In Sunday's home finale, which is slated for 1 p.m., the Wildcats will honor eight players and three staff members for Senior Day. The three-game conference set will broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
– 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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ruhl, Ty (3-2)
L: Estridge, Carson (3-1)
Batting:
2B: West, Kyle 1 ; Sauve, Logan 1 ; White, Sam 1 ; Rinehart, Jace 1
3B: Swain, Chase 1
HR: Rinehart, Jace 1
RBI: West, Kyle 1 ; Sauve, Logan 1 ; White, Sam 1 ; Rinehart, Jace 2 ; Swain, Chase 1
Base Running:
RUNS: West, Kyle 1 ; Sauve, Logan 2 ; White, Sam 1 ; Rinehart, Jace 1 ; Swain, Chase 1 ; Kresser, Brodie 1
CS: King, Skylar 1 ; Valdes, Jorge 1 ; Kresser, Brodie 1
HBP: Kresser, Brodie 1
Batting:
2B: Inoue, Shintaro 1 ; Kennedy, Dee 1 ; Evasco, AJ 1
3B: Kennedy, Dee 1
HR: O'Connor, Keegan 1 ; Madliak, Bear 1
RBI: Smolinski, Ty 1 ; O'Connor, Keegan 2 ; Evasco, AJ 1 ; Madliak, Bear 2 ; Flores, Sam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: O'Connor, Keegan 1 ; Dardar, Seth 1 ; Kennedy, Dee 1 ; Evasco, AJ 2 ; Madliak, Bear 1 ; Karl, Cadyn 1 ; Putz, Rohan 1
SB: Kennedy, Dee 1
HBP: Dardar, Seth 1 ; Evasco, AJ 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF
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INF
/ Baseball
LHP
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/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballC
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INF
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