K-State Sports
MANHATTAN – K-State's Brady Day delivered the game-winning hit to give the Wildcats a 7-6 victory over TCU in the series opener at Tointon Family Stadium.
"That was a fun, crucial win for our program," head coach Pete Hughes said on his team's victory. "Just a great college baseball game. Great atmosphere, the back-and-forth and the importance of it."
K-State (33-20, 13-9 Big 12) gave up a pair of runs in the top of the eighth and faced a one-run deficit heading into the final frame before a passed ball leveled the score. Day, who was the seventh Wildcat to head to the plate in the ninth, recorded the game-winning RBI as he smoked a ball into left center to snap a four-game losing streak against the Horned Frogs (31-22, 11-11 Big 12).
"I'm really proud of our guys. Once again, their resiliency was on display, they never panicked. They just keep getting back into games and believing in each other. It's one of those special trademark wins that you can talk about when you look back on this season," said Hughes.
Day's game-winning single marked the Cats third walk-off of the year and second by the Hampstead, N.H. product. The Cats remain tied third in the Big 12 race alongside Texas who topped West Virginia, 12-2.
Tyson Neighbors (5-1) earned his sixth consecutive decision as the sophomore picked up the victory in relief. Neighbors, who was selected to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp, allowed two runs (two earned) in his two innings and retired the side in the ninth with a pair strikeouts.
Owen Boerema, in his final start at Tointon Family Stadium, struck out a game-high six during his six-inning start where he allowed three earned runs on eight hits.
Six Wildcats earned a hit in the victory led by Brendan Jones and Day with two while Kaelen Culpepper drove in two RBI.
ON DECK
Game Two between the Cats and Horned Frogs is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday inside Tointon Family Stadium. The entire conference series can be seen on the Big 12 Now on ESPN+ while a free live stream audio is available at kstatesports.com/watch.