Takeaways: Kansas State completes sweep of three ranked teams
Kansas State does exactly what they needed
A 1-4 start for Kansas State, on the heels of a 2024 season where they advanced to the super regional after taking down Arkansas (and Louisiana Tech and SEMO) in the Fayetteville regional, was about as crippling as possible.
Two losses to Coastal Carolina and one to Washington were inexcusable. Neither are world-beaters, and K-State wasn’t even that competitive in either of the contests. The losses were 9-2, 8-3 and 9-2 beginning on Valentine’s Day. A win over a pedestrian Saint Joseph’s squad didn’t make up for it.
The bats did come alive against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, but they were never going to keep the Tar Heels off the scoreboard enough in their fifth game in five days.
It looked like the season was over before it started for the Wildcats. Not only were they 1-4 against a pretty navigable part of the schedule, they were about to take on three ranked teams away from home in No. 4 Arkansas, No. 25 Michigan and No. 13 TCU.
But instead of a canvas that looked like it was about to be painted 1-7, Kansas State is instead 4-4 with some of the better wins in the country. They just completed the sweep of three ranked teams over the weekend on a neutral site in Arlington. The Razorbacks have likely seen enough of the Wildcats for a lifetime.
Pitching paves the way
K-State couldn’t have done it without their pitching, and not just the starters and not just the bullpen. The entire staff allowed just five runs all weekend – two to Arkansas, one to the Wolverines and two more to the Horned Frogs.
Pete Hughes has to be proud and relieved that the depth he felt he had in the pitching staff finally came to life.
Between Jacob Frost and Blake Dean, Kansas State began the weekend striking out 11 Arkansas batters, walking just two and giving up two earned runs on four hits. Dean didn’t allow a run and recorded 11 outs. Frost recorded the win and Dean the save.
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K-State relied on Michael Quevedo, Donte Lewis and James Guyette in game two versus Michigan. The trio combined to allow just one earned run on five hits. Lewis is gaining a lot of steam nationally for getting the win, being perfect through four innings and striking out three while hitting the upper 90s on the radar gun.
The third outing against league foe TCU was taken care of by Lincoln Sheffield, JJ Slack and Tazwell Butler. Together they struck out 10 Horned Frogs and surrendered just two earned runs on four hits, with Sheffield getting the win.
Eight pitchers, and it didn’t include two guys Kansas State felt they would count on a lot this year in Ty Ruhl and Carson Liggett.
A look-ahead for the Wildcats
That pitching staff that came together nicely at Globe Life Field can get a little bit of rest now that the Wildcats don’t play for five days. They resume action on February 28, but the schedule doesn’t lighten up at all. They’ve already played four ranked teams and two in the top five, and now get another in No. 2 LSU.
Yes, that’s right, that means K-State will have played three of the top five teams in the country within the first few weeks of the season. Much like he showcased a season ago when the Wildcats advanced to the NCAA Tournament, Hughes continues to recognize and embrace tough scheduling as a roadmap to the postseason.
In addition to the Tigers, Kansas State also still has three games awaiting them against Nebraska (who was once ranked), a series with Cincinnati (who is ranked), and traditionally they’d see strong clubs from Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Sam Houston, Missouri State and Northeastern.
