The Wildcats were down to their final three outs Saturday afternoon. Three outs from falling to the No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies and losing their third straight series to a Big 12 South team this season.
The series was tied at one game apiece, and the Aggies were ahead 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth and looking to take the series after losing game two Friday evening.
However, with one out and fellow Wildcat Jason King on second base and Rob Vaughn on first base, pinch hitter Michael Kindel singled through the right side and brought King home, giving K-State a sudden spark.
Following the single, Vaughn advanced to third base with Carter Jurica coming to the plate. On a 1-2 pitch with one out, Jurica was able to hit a fly ball deep enough to right field to bring Vaughn home and give the Wildcats the win and the series.
With the two wins in the series, K-State improved to 26-9 overall this season, and 7-5 in the Big 12. Meanwhile, Texas A&M dropped to 21-14 overall and 8-7 in the Big 12.
After dropping the opening game of the series 4-2 on Friday afternoon to the Aggies, it looked as though K-State would yet again fall victim to the Big 12 South in the series.
Wildcat starting pitcher Lance Hodge was able to throw six innings of shut-out baseball, and the Wildcats held a 2-0 lead following a single down the third base line by Jason King, bringing in Drew Beiry.
However, the Aggie bats would come alive in the eighth inning. After Kevin Gonzalez doubled to right center, Hodge was pulled from the game and replaced by James Allen.
Allen was unable to slow the momentum built by Gonzalez’s double as the Aggies exploded for four hits and four runs in the inning and took a 4-2 lead that would sink K-State in the first game of the series. The Aggies held the lead for the short remainder of the game.
Despite the loss, it wasn’t difficult for Wildcat fans to be optimistic prior to the second game of the doubleheader on Friday, as the dominant A.J. Morris was scheduled to take the mound for K-State just one hour later for game two.
Morris, who led the nation in wins with eight prior to taking the mound Friday, gave K-State a chance to tie the series before heading into Saturday, and delivered just as he has all season long.
The Wildcats took a quick 3-0 by the second inning, as K-State strung together three singles by the middle of the lineup.
The lead proved to be enough for Morris, who tossed five complete innings before the Aggies could push across a run, when Kyle Colligan blasted a two-run home run. Morris got out of the inning with the home run being the only damage done by the Aggies.
He was pulled in the following inning after giving up two runs and another home run, this time by Brodie Green. With the Wildcats up 5-4, sophomore Thomas Rooke replaced Morris on the mound and preserved the precious lead to give the Wildcats the victory and tie the series at 1 game apiece.
With the victory, Morris improved to 9-0 on the season, tying a single season record for victories by a Wildcat pitcher.
K-State is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday at Tointon Family Stadium, when they take on in-state rival Wichita State in a two-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and will be televised on Cox Cable Channel 22.
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