The bats continued to stay ice cold for Kansas State (28-20, 7-13) on Friday during the opening games of the Sunflower Showdown against in-state rival Kansas.
The Wildcats and Jayhawks played an unexpected double-header in order to get all three games of the weekend series in before inclement weather could play a factor later this weekend.
In the opening game of the series, K-State ace Jordan Wicks (5-3) was tagged with the loss after tossing 6.2 innings, allowing just two run. He had six strikeouts, but wasn’t able to get the run support he needed.
“Disappointing day today, to be honest,” head coach Pete Hughes said in a release to K-State Athletics. “This was an important series that we needed to win to get where we want to go, and to be non-competitive offensively is frustrating. Wicks was the bright spot; he gave us a chance in game one with another quality start, but we couldn’t take advantage with the bases loaded in the ninth. We have to get him some run support.”
K-State managed just four hits in the first game, which included doubles from senior Cameron Thompson and sophomore Dylan Phillips. The Wildcats struck out seven times — three of which came from junior catcher Dylan Caplinger alone.
The Wildcats left six runners on base in the uneventful offensive showing. The team played cleanly in the field as well, recording zero errors in the loss. Kansas won, 2-0.
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Things didn’t get any better for K-State offense in game two of the double-header as Jayhawk sophomore Eli Davis threw the Big 12 Conference’s 20th hitter of all-time in seven innings of work — Kansas run ruled the Wildcats 10-0.
Davis’ no-hitter came just days after Kansas was no-hit by Oklahoma State.
The game got out of hand for K-State in the opening frame after senior pitcher Kasey Ford gave up six earned runs. K-State’s defense didn’t help either as the team committed three errors in the inning and allowed a batter to reach on a catcher’s interference call.
On the night, Ford threw 4.2 innings, giving up eight earned and walking three batters. He gave up for doubles and recorded just three strikeouts during his 107 total pitches.
In Davis’ distance run on the mound for the Jayhawks, he struck out four and walked just two. He threw just 97 pitches in those seven innings.
As a team, Kansas went 8-29 from the plate in game two with four doubles. Five walks and four total Wildcat errors accounted for more damage to be done later in the game.
With the two losses, the Wildcats are now tied for second-to-last place in the conference standings with KU.
“Tomorrow is another day and another chance to win on the road,” Hughes said in the press release. “We have to be able to bounce back and need to find a way to win tomorrow.”
K-State will be back in action on Saturday to conclude the weekend series at Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. The game will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with radio coverage through KMAN.
