K-State Sports
MANHATTAN – K-State's late ninth-inning rally wasn't enough as the Wildcats comeback bid fell short, 4-3, in the series' rubber match against TCU at Tointon Family Stadium.
In the regular-season finale for both teams, K-State (33-22, 13-11) enters the upcoming Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship as the No. 5 seed starting on Wednesday, May 24. The Cats will take on No. 4 seed TCU with first pitch slated for 9 a.m. at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas
"You got to flush it," said head coach Pete Hughes about his team heading into the Big 12 tournament. "We expect to play a little further along this postseason and beyond the Big 12 tournament. Feel bad about it for 24 hours then get locked and get to business and ready to roll in Arlington."
"Obviously disappointing day and weekend, you can't expect to beat anyone when you score two runs in the previous 17 innings. The storyline of the weekend was there pitching was better then our offense this weekend," said Hughes.
Ty Ruhl (3-4) was credited the loss in his first start of the season as the sophomore allowed two earned runs over his 4 2/3 innings. Tyson Neighbors struck out five during his 4 1/3 innings in relief.
"We put them in roles they weren't accustomed to, stretched them out a little and they were super-efficient. They absolutely pitched good enough for our offense to build a lead, but credit to TCU's pitching."
Senior Cash Rugely collected a game-high four hits going 4-for-4 in his final game at Tointon Family Stadium while scoring two of the Cats' three runs.
The Cats honored Rugely, Owen Boerema, Blake Corsentino, Roberto Pena, Cole Johnson, Griffin Hassall, Jared Henry, Corey Cater, and Trae Robertson during the 2023 Senior Day Ceremony.