K-State Blanks Jayhawks, 10-0

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Two long balls and a five-run first inning was too much to handle, as the Kansas baseball team fell to the Kansas State, 10-0, Friday night at Tointon Family Stadium.

K-State (18-11, 2-2 Big 12) right-handed ace Levi MaVorhis (4-3) pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits, after a five-inning no-hit bid fell short where he retired 15-straight batters. This was the second time Kansas (19-11, 3-4 Big 12) has been shutout this season, as KU failed to score a run at Stanford (March 9). Since 2006, the Wildcats have won 11-of-13 games against the Jayhawks in Manhattan, including tonight’s contest.

Junior left fielder Michael Suiter, junior right fielder Connor McKay and junior first baseman Ryan Pidhaichuk each tallied one hit in the loss. K-State designated hitter Tanner DeVinny led all hitters with a 1-for-2 effort at the plate with a three-run home run, three RBIs, two runs scored and a walk.

With Friday regular Wes Benjamin out of the weekend rotation, the Jayhawks called upon senior righty Jordan Piche’ (4-3) to toe the rubber against the Wildcats for his first career start.

Piche’ struggled early, allowing five runs in the first inning. He grinded through five innings, giving up seven runs off eight hits and three walks while striking out five batters. Freshman Jon Hander, junior Colin Toalson and sophomore Hayden Edwards all saw action on the bump in relief, as the staff combined for a season-high eight walks and three hit batters for 11 free passes.

Kansas State jumped out of the gates swinging, tacking on five runs in the first inning. 2013 Big 12 Player of the Year and KSU centerfielder Ross Kivett led off the game with a single up the middle, before stealing second and advancing to third on a ground out.

After a walk by shortstop Austin Fisher, third baseman RJ Santigate followed with a single through the left side to score Kivett from third and give the Wildcats the early lead, 1-0. On the next pitch, DeVinny drove one deep over the wall in right center for the three-run bomb before an RBI-single by left fielder Clayton Dalrymple stretched K-State’s lead to five, 5-0.

Piche’ settled down the next two frames, throwing up zeroes on the scoreboard, before Kansas State tacked on another run in the fourth inning. Kivett flied out to start off the inning for the Wildcats and gave the Jayhawks the quick out they were looking for. However, the next pitch, first baseman Shane Conlon hit one over the short porch in right field for the second home run of the game and gave K-State the 6-0 lead.

After another Wildcat run in the bottom of the fifth inning and the no-hit bid still intact for MaVorhis, Pidhaichuk smoked the second pitch he saw to centerfield for the first of three KU hits on the night.

K-State added one run in the sixth and two more in the eighth to put the game out of reach as the Jayhawks fell, 10-0.

The two teams are back on the diamond Saturday, April 5, for game two of the three-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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