<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739589404044.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas State Athletics
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CONWAY, S.C. &ndash;&nbsp;Nine strikeouts and six shutout innings from Washington's Max Banks spearheaded the Huskies to a 9-2 victory Friday afternoon in the season opener at Vrooman Field at Springs Brooks Stadium. The Huskies (1-0) used seven hits, that included a pair of home runs backed the right-handed starter. Banks (1-0), a Division III transfer, held the Cats to two hits in his six innings to pick up his first victory with Washington. "The game started poorly for us," seventh-year head coach&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/pete-hughes/2461" rel="smarttag" rev="2461">Pete Hughes</a></dfn>&nbsp;stated. "We immediately set a bad tone for that game. We won't beat anyone if we give away 13 free bases. The positive is that our guys are good players, and I don't think we can play any worse." In the ninth, K-State (0-1) ended the shutout with back-to-back hits from newcomers&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/keegan-o-connor/12317" rel="smarttag" rev="12317">Keegan O'Connor</a></dfn>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/aj-evasco/12312" rel="smarttag" rev="12312">AJ Evasco</a></dfn>. O'Connor singled through the left side to plate the Cats' first run of the season before Evasco delivered a pinch-hit double down the right field line in his first collegiate at bat. "We were able to build momentum and get the bats going in the last inning and, hopefully, that carries over to tomorrow. I also thought our bullpen pitched well enough to give us a chance to climb back into the game, but unfortunately, we couldn't make it happen," Hughes added. "Credit to Washington's starter and their strong defense for nine innings." K-State starting pitcher&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/ty-ruhl/11475" rel="smarttag" rev="11475">Ty Ruhl</a></dfn>&nbsp;(0-1) suffered the loss after surrendering three runs (two earned) on one hit with three walks and three strikeouts. Four relievers for the Wildcats allowed four earned runs and combined for eight strikeouts, led by five from newcomer&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/tanner-duke/12334" rel="smarttag" rev="12334">Tanner Duke</a></dfn>. A total of six different Wildcats registered a hit on Opening Day, with Evasco accounting for K-State's lone extra-base hit. HOW IT HAPPENED Leadoff Sam DeCarlo singled into left, avoiding the diving efforts of O'Connor, before the shortstop came around the bases on a throwing error and sacrifice fly. A wild pitch plated the second run of the inning.&nbsp; <dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/jacob-frost/11523" rel="smarttag" rev="11523">Jacob Frost</a></dfn>&nbsp;relieved Ruhl in the second, inheriting a bases loaded jam and walked in a run against the first batter he faced to make it 3-0. The lefty locked in and retired four straight batters, including three strikeouts, to help retire the Huskies in order in the third. K-State's best look to jump on the board early came in the next inning with Inoue's single up the middle before the junior shortstop advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Washington extended its lead with homers by third baseman Trevor Kole and right fielder Malakhi Knight. Down 9-0, the Cats registered four hits in the final inning to snap the shutout.&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/dee-kennedy/12308" rel="smarttag" rev="12308">Dee Kennedy</a></dfn>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/kyan-lodice/11469" rel="smarttag" rev="11469">Kyan Lodice</a></dfn>&nbsp;went back-to-back with a pair of singles, until Kennedy scored on a single through the left side by O'Connor. With runners on first and second, Evasco stepped in as a pinch hitter and laced a double down the right field line to score Lodice. INSIDE THE BOX
<ul>
<li>K-State scored two earned runs on six hits with two errors.</li>
<li>Six different players registered a hit, with Evasco produced the only extra-base hit with his pinch-hit double in the ninth.</li>
<li>Ruhl (0-1) was credited with the loss &ndash; logging 1 1/3 innings with three runs (two earned) on one hit, three walks, three strikeouts and two hit by pitches.</li>
<li>Washington plated nine runs on seven hits with one error committed.</li>
<li>Banks (1-0) logged six shutout innings to pick up the win with nine strikeouts while Emanuels earned the save.</li>
<li>The Cats hit .194 (6-for-31) while going 2-for-8 (.250) with runners in scoring position.</li>
<li>UW hit .219 (7-for-32) and were 2-for-5 with runners in scoring position and plated three runs with two outs.</li>
<li>The Huskies' Kole and Knight each homered.</li>
<li>K-State's pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts, led by five from Duke.</li>
</ul>
NOTES
<ul>
<li>Eight of the 15 players who saw the field on opening day made their K-State debuts, while Evasco appeared in his first collegiate game.</li>
<li>Washington leads the all-time series 7-1 with a five-game winning streak.</li>
<li>K-State moves to 162-207 all-time against Big Ten schools.</li>
<li>Friday marked the first time the Cats opened against a Big Ten opponent since 2017 vs. Ohio State (L, 6-3).</li>
<li>For the 21st&nbsp;consecutive year, K-State opened its season on the road.</li>
<li>K-State moves to 3-7 in the season openers over the last 10 years and 15-11 since 2000.</li>
</ul>
UP NEXT K-State continues the Baseball at the Beach on Saturday against tournament host Coastal Carolina with first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT. Saturday's contest will be streamed on ESPN+, while fans can listen on K-StateSports.com/watch or follow live stats via online or social media.</div>

⚾ Cats drop season opener to Washington