<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743384913783.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas State Athletics
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MANHATTAN, Kan. &ndash;&nbsp;K-State completed the series sweep of Texas Tech on Sunday afternoon, as&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/shintaro-inoue/12311" rel="smarttag" rev="12311">Shintaro Inoue's</a></dfn>&nbsp;two-run walk-off single lifted the Wildcats to a 5-4 victory at Tointon Family Stadium. "I love seeing our kids play at a high level and pressure situation," stated head coach&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/pete-hughes/2603" rel="smarttag" rev="2603">Pete Hughes</a></dfn>&nbsp;on his team's third Big 12 series win of the year. "The greatest thing a coach can do is watch that. It means they're prepared, they have confidence in their preparation, and they have a strong foundation. So that was awesome." The Wildcats (19-8, 8-1 Big 12) trailed 4-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Catcher&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/bear-madliak/12309" rel="smarttag" rev="12309">Bear Madliak</a></dfn>&nbsp;doubled to right field before a hit by pitch and clutch RBI-single from pinch hitter&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/sam-flores/12310" rel="smarttag" rev="12310">Sam Flores</a></dfn>&nbsp;brought the game within one. <dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/dee-kennedy/12308" rel="smarttag" rev="12308">Dee Kennedy</a></dfn>&nbsp;was hit by a pitch to load the bases and force TTU (8-16, 4-5 Big 12) to make a call to the bullpen. With no outs and bases loaded, Inoue laced a 2-2 pitch pass the diving efforts of the Red Raiders' second baseman to plate the tying- and game-winning runs, handing Wildcats their 10th&nbsp;consecutive victory at home. "Our bullpen really saved the day, specifically our two seniors,&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/ty-ruhl/12303" rel="smarttag" rev="12303">Ty Ruhl</a></dfn>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/jj-slack/12304" rel="smarttag" rev="12304">JJ Slack</a></dfn>. I'm just happy for guys like&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/sam-flores/12310" rel="smarttag" rev="12310">Sam Flores</a></dfn>, who hasn't played a whole lot of baseball this spring, but his mindset has never left the 'team first'. He's never caught up in himself. He puts himself in a really good place mentally when we call his number. Who knows when we're going to do it, but we did today, and he was ready. So, a heck of a role model for our younger players. It's just fun putting yourself in a situation in the ninth inning where you get a chance to win a game and sweep the series. It was a fun day." K-State utilized five pitchers in the win with Ruhl and Slack combining for 5 1/3 shutout innings in relief. Slack (1-2), who was awarded his first win of the season, struck out five of the seven batters he faced. The left-hander issued one walk before he struck out the side in the ninth, building momentum heading into the final frame. <dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/keegan-o-connor/12317" rel="smarttag" rev="12317">Keegan O'Connor</a></dfn>, who led the weekend with a .455 average (5-for-11), finished the day 2-for-3 with a double and his second home run of the series. In addition to O'Connor, Inoue also produced a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-4. The duo combined for four of the Wildcats' five RBI. With the win, the Wildcats recorded their third sweep over Texas Tech in program history and first since 2013.&nbsp;The victory also marks K-State's second consecutive 19-8 start. K-State hit .277 (26-for-94) in its third straight home series win against TTU, registering six doubles and six home runs. The Wildcats slugged .532 overall and hit .320 (8-for-25) with runners in scoring position with five two-out RBI. HOW IT HAPPENED TTU plated three runs in a three-inning span, led by a two-run blast by first baseman Robin Villeneuve in the first. The Red Raiders threatened to expand their lead after loading the bases with no outs, but reliever&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/ty-ruhl/12303" rel="smarttag" rev="12303">Ty Ruhl</a></dfn>&nbsp;retired three straight batters to keep the game within three. O'Connor ended TTU starter Zane Petty's no-hit bid in the fourth, doubling into right center and avoiding the diving efforts of the Red Raiders' center fielder. After five scoreless innings, the Wildcats broke through with a two-run blast from O'Connor, making it a 3-2 ballgame. TTU recovered one of the runs handed over in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single. Trailing 4-2 in the eighth, Slack took the mound and inherited runners on first and second. The left-hander fanned the first two batters he faced before forcing a grounder to second and retired the Red Raiders in order. Behind scoreless ninth from Slack, Madliak doubled into right field before&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/kyan-lodice/12298" rel="smarttag" rev="12298">Kyan Lodice</a></dfn>&nbsp;was clipped to put runners on first and second. Pinch hitter&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/sam-flores/12310" rel="smarttag" rev="12310">Sam Flores</a></dfn>&nbsp;lined a singled to the wall in right field to bring the game within one. Down 4-3 with no outs, Kennedy was hit by a pitch to load the bases and force TTU to make a pitching change. Facing reliever Zach Crotchfelt, Inoue drove a 2-2 pitch pass the second baseman to score a pair of runs and complete the series sweep. INSIDE THE BOX
<ul>
<li>K-State scored five runs on seven hits with no errors committed and nine runners left on base.</li>
<li>TTU scored four runs on 12 hits, committed no errors and stranded 13 on base.</li>
<li>Inoue delivered the game-winning hit with a two-run single through the right side in the ninth.</li>
<li>O'Connor doubled in the fourth to break a no-hit bid and homered in the sixth to end the shutout.</li>
<li>Inoue and O'Connor each had two hits and drove in a pair of RBI.</li>
<li>K-State utilized five pitchers in the win.</li>
<li>Slack (1-2) was awarded the victory in relief, striking out five of the seven batters he faced.</li>
<li>Ruhl logged a team-high 3 1/3 innings, leaving TTU scoreless with five hits.</li>
<li>Parish (0-4) suffered the loss, allowing four earned runs in his 2 2/3 innings in relief.</li>
<li>Petty held the Cats to one run and two hits in his 5 1/3 inning start.</li>
</ul>
TEAM NOTES
<ul>
<li>The Wildcats are off to a 10-0 start at home for the first time since 2014.</li>
<li>K-State recorded its third sweep of the season &ndash; second in Big 12 action.</li>
<li>With the win, K-State recorded the program's third-ever sweep over TTU (2011, 2013, 2025).</li>
<li>The win marked the Cats' third come-from-behind victory of the year and fourth walk-off victory.</li>
<li>K-State has homered in 11 straight games, totaling 22 in the stretch &ndash; ranks second in the Big 12 with 49 total home runs.</li>
<li>TTU leads the all-time series 51-37-1, with a 43-33-1 lead in Big 12 play.</li>
<li>K-State is 24-18 when playing at home against TTU.</li>
<li>Under Hughes, K-State is 10-9 vs. TTU.</li>
</ul>
PLAYER NOTES
<ul>
<li>O'Connor hit his eighth homer and stretched his on-base streak to 19.</li>
<li>Evasco has reached safely in 18 straight games.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Inoue delivered his first game-winning RBI when the Cats' trailed.</li>
</ul>
UP NEXT K-State will face in-state rival Wichita State (10-17) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Eck Stadium, before returning to conference play for a three-game series at Oklahoma State (12-13, 1-6 Big 12), starting Friday. K-State baseball single-game tickets are available, and can be purchased by visiting&nbsp;<a name="_Hlk192492882"></a>KStateSports.com, call 1-800-221-CATS (2287), or stopping by the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.</div>

⚾ K-State sweeps Texas Tech after walk-off win Sunday