Thursday Big 12 Baseball Six-Pack: Kansas State Walks Off TCU While Texas Crushes West Virginia
Is there anything better than cold beer and baseball? It’s a combination that is hard to beat during the season. No matter what kind of beer you drink (or how many), let’s take a look at some of the best action on the Big 12 baseball diamond from Thursday with a nice six pack.
Best Game
TCU at Kansas State
Despite neither team being ranked, this was a huge series for both teams. TCU and Kansas State are on the postseason bubble and whoever wins this series will likely keep their tournament hopes alive. What we saw on Thursday night was a great game with a wild finish.
The Wildcats started the game by getting on the board with a pair of home runs by Cash Rugely and Kyan Lodice. However, Braden Taylor’s two-run blast tied the game up in the third inning before Kalen Culpepper gave Kansas State the lead back with his two-RBI single.
TCU wouldn’t go down easily though as Anthony Silva and Tre Richardson came up with big hits that tied the game back up in the seventh inning. But thanks to a bases loaded walk; Kansas State was back on top. The Horned Frogs took their first lead of the game in the eighth inning when Karson Bowen drove in a pair of runs but once again, the Wildcats roared back. A passed ball tied the game in the ninth inning before Brady Day walked it off with his RBI single.
With the win, Kansas State takes game one and now just needs one more win to take the series.
Best Win
Texas over #6 West Virginia
It’s not often we see a top ten team get blown out but that is exactly what happened on Thursday night down in Austin. The Longhorns were all over the Mountaineers early in this one as Porter Brown and Peyton Powell got the party started to put Texas up 6-0 after three innings.
Little did we know that Porter Brown’s night was just getting started because he blasted two more homers in the game and by the time the sixth inning was over, the Longhorns had an 11-0 lead.
West Virginia eventually scored in the eighth inning, but it wasn’t nearly enough to put a dent in that Texas lead. Dylan Campbell’s home run in the bottom of the eighth was pretty much the cherry on top in this blowout game.
It was a big win for Texas to get the weekend started and West Virginia is still looking to clinch a Big 12 title for at least another day.
Worst Loss
Texas Tech
Coming into the weekend, Texas Tech was one of the few Big 12 teams on the postseason bubble. With a 10-11 record in conference play, the Red Raiders really needed a good sweep over Kansas this weekend to help their chances of making the tournament. But what we saw on Thursday night was an offense that struggled and a home run by Cole Elvis that helped Kansas steal game one in Lubbock.
Thursday MVP
Texas LF Porter Brown
Porter Brown hit not one, not two but three home runs on Thursday night. He ended up with a team high eight RBIs and it was one of the best performances in the Big 12 I have seen all year.
Pitcher of the Day
Texas LHP Lucas Gordon
Lucas has won this award many times and it’s no surprise to see him here again. He pitched another gem on Thursday against West Virginia going seven full innings and allowing zero runs while striking out eight batters. With Lucas on the mound, Texas has a chance to beat any team in the entire country.
Best Home Run
Kansas 1B Cole Elvis
I could have gone with one of Porter Brown’s home runs, but the home run that Cole Elvis hit was huge. His homer helped Kansas upset Texas Tech in Lubbock on Thursday night.
Full Scoreboard
Texas: 12, #6 West Virginia: 2
#25 Oklahoma State: 13, Oklahoma: 2
Kansas State: 7, TCU: 6
Kansas: 3, Texas Tech: 1
Baylor: 10, CSU Bakersfield: 3
