The Kansas State baseball team looks to get back on track after a heartbreaking 7–6 loss to rival Nebraska on Tuesday night.
The Wildcats (26–19, 12–9 Big 12) now begin a three-game Big 12 road series against BYU (21–21, 6–15 Big 12) on Thursday night. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. CT at Miller Field.
Nebraska left fielder Gabe Swansen delivered the decisive blow with a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth, driving in three runs to lift the Cornhuskers over the Wildcats.
K-State starting pitcher Tanner Duke turned in a solid performance, allowing just two hits and one unearned run over five innings. However, reliever Ty Ruhl took the loss after giving up two hits with the bases loaded in the ninth.
In Thursday’s series opener, K-State's Jacob Frost (1–2, 4.38 ERA) is slated to face BYU right-hander Payton Gubler (3–3, 5.98 ERA).
K-State leads the all-time series 7–5, though this marks the first Big 12 matchup between the teams in Provo. BYU is undefeated (4–0) in home games against the Wildcats, and six of the 12 meetings have been decided by three runs or fewer.
Projected starters for Game 2 are K-State lefty Michael Quevedo (5–1, 5.36 ERA) and BYU right-hander Garrison Sumner (3–2, 7.98 ERA). Saturday’s game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., while Sunday’s finale begins at 2:30 p.m., with Lincoln Sheffield expected to start on the mound for K-State.
The Wildcats currently sit sixth in the Big 12 standings with a 12–9 conference record. However, they have struggled on the road, going just 2–7 away from home. K-State is batting .261 in conference play, averaging 6.4 runs and 8.5 hits per game.
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