TCU stomps Wildcats to split series 1-1

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Redshirt sophomore Raphael Pelletier leads off of first while keeping his eye on the pitch. Kansas State baseball finished strong with a 3-2 win over Texas Tech on April 28. (Jersey Johnson | Collegian Media Group)

Kansas State baseball fell to TCU 8-1 in a dominating game at Tointon Family Stadium. The Horned Frogs evened the three-game series, led by an early lead and excellent pitching.

TCU exploded in the first inning on K-State pitcher German Fajardo (3-4) with an RBI fielder’s choice from second baseman Tre Richardson. Richardson later stole second base in a double steal where third baseman Brayden Taylor took home to take a 2-0 lead.

Horned Frog ace Kole Klecker moved his record to 9-4, throwing six strikeouts in six innings. Klecker’s performance was highlighted by allowing zero hits. While the Wildcats were unable to hit off of Klecker, they put a player on base in the first five innings.

TCU increased its lead to three in the fifth inning after a wild pitch from Fajardo that drove in Richardson, but it was the Horned Frog’s seventh inning that sealed the deal.

The Horned Frogs increased the lead to 8-0, starting with a solo home run from first baseman Cole Fontenelle followed by RBI at-bats from right fielder Austin Davis, center fielder Elijah Nunez and catcher Karson Bowen.

In the bottom of the seventh, K-State left fielder Cole Johnson ended the no-hitter with a double off the center field wall. Johnson was later driven in by catcher Raphael Pelletier off of a single to score the final run and put the score at 8-1.

K-State and TCU face off at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Tointon to finish off the regular season in a series clincher.

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