Kansas State baseball moved into the Big 12 quarterfinals with a 9-4 victory over Texas Christian University, turning an 11th-seed start into a matchup against second-seeded West Virginia.
The Wildcats exploded out of the gate, building a 7-0 lead after four innings that set the tone for the contest.
Right-hander Tazwell Butler delivered a stellar outing, retiring 11 of the first 12 batters he faced and finishing his start with 4 2/3 innings pitched, allowing just two runs on four hits.
At the plate, Ty Smolinski and AJ Evasco each collected three hits, while Kyan Lodice, Bear Madliak and Cadyn Karl added two hits apiece, giving the lineup six extra-base hits overall.
Key Moments in the Game
Dee Kennedy opened the game with a sharp single and scored the first run, and Smolinski later plated Kennedy with a double to left-center.
The Wildcats extended their advantage to 5-0 in the third inning when Smolinski tripled and Grant Gallagher singled in two runs.
Evasco drove in the seventh run with a two-out triple later in the game, pushing the lead to 7-0 before TCU began to rally.
After the Horned Frogs scored two runs in the fifth, Kansas State answered with a single tally, and a sacrifice fly by Vasquez made it 9-2.
Cohen Feser shut down the opposition with three no-hit innings, earning his fourth save of the season, while Adam Arther contributed 1 1/3 innings of relief to pick up the win.
The victory secures a quarterfinal clash with West Virginia, a game that will be televised live on ESPNU, and underscores the Wildcats' consistent excellence in the tournament.