Three losses at the hands of West Virginia has thrown the K-State baseball team into last place in the conference, which would exclude them from the Big 12 Tournament if the season ended today. The Wildcats, now in ninth place, will need to move into the top eight if they want to play in any postseason games this year.
The Wildcats (23-22, 4-11 Big 12) were outscored 22-7 in the three-game series, struggling against the Mountaineers (24-16, 7-7 Big 12) both on the mound and at the plate in a weekend where they seemed to have left their A-game back in Manhattan.
The usually-dependable Levi MaVorhis struggled in his start on Friday night, as the sophomore gave up nine runs in 5 1/3 innings, dropping to 5-5 on the year in the team’s 10-1 loss. West Virginia ace Harrison Musgrave held K-State to just three hits in his eight innings, as the Wildcats scored their lone run in the ninth inning after the reigning Big 12 Pitcher of the Year had left the game.
K-State had a 5-3 lead in Saturday’s game heading into the bottom of the ninth, but sophomore Jake Matthys gave up three runs in the frame, allowing West Virginia a spectacular walk-off win in front of their home crowd, 6-5.
Freshman starter Jordan Floyd was knocked out of the game in the first inning by the Mountaineer offense, allowing two runs while just recording one out. He was relieved by another freshman, Jake Fromson, who allowed just one run in 5 1/3 innings, but the rest of the bullpen could not hold on to the lead for K-State.
Despite Saturday’s game being an exciting affair with a close final score, Sunday’s series finale resembled the series opener more as West Virginia completed the sweep with a 6-1 victory.
Wildcat starter Nate Griep continued his slide by allowing five runs in five innings, while the offense managed just five hits on the day, including two from senior second baseman Ross Kivett.
K-State will play three road games next weekend against TCU in Fort Worth, Texas before playing a midweek game in Wichita against Wichita State next Wednesday.
