ARLINGTON, Texas- Fifth-seeded Kansas State (35-23) moved on to the semifinals after beating the Kansas Jayhawks (25-32) 7-1 in Game 9 of the 2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship hosted at Globe Life Field. This is the third straight season the Wildcats have advanced to the semifinals.
The Wildcats had two runners on base in the second inning when Kaelen Culpepper launched a home run to left field to bring the K-State lead to 3-0.
The Jayhawks responded with a solo home run courtesy of Jake English in the third inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Kansas State had Cole Johnson, Culpepper, and Raphael Pelletier on the bases when Roberto Pena brought a run in on a sacrifice fly to bring the score to 4-1. Later, Johnson scored on a throwing error made by English finishing off the fourth inning with a 5-1 score.
German Fajardo (4-4) allowed just five hits while tossing nine strikeouts and allowing one earned run during his 7.1 innings pitched to earn the win. Fajardo tied a K-State Championship game record with his nine strikeouts.
Sam Ireland (4-7) had four strikeouts to go with two walks while allowing three runs (all earned) in 3.0 innings pitched for Kansas.
Kansas State will play TCU at 9 a.m. CT on Saturday, May 27 on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. The Wildcats will need to win twice against the Horned Frogs to advance to the Championship final while one loss eliminates K-State.
2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship Schedule
Wednesday, May 24
Game 1 – No. 4 TCU 16, No. 5 Kansas State 3, (7 inn.) – 9 a.m. – ESPNU
Game 2 – No. 8 Kansas 6, No. 1 Texas 3– 12:30 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 3 – No. 7 Oklahoma 9, No. 2 Oklahoma State 5 – 4 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 4 – No. 6 Texas Tech 6, No. 3 West Virginia 2 – 7:30 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Thursday, May 25
Game 5 – No. 5 Kansas State 6, No. 1 Texas 0 – 9 a.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 6 – No. 2 Oklahoma State 3, No. 3 West Virginia 2 – 12:30 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 7 – No. 4 TCU 14, No. 8 Kansas 4 (8 inn.) – 4 p.m. – ESPNU
Game 8 – No. 6 Texas Tech 10, No. 7 Oklahoma 9 – 7:30 p.m. – ESPNU
Friday, May 26
Game 9 – No. 5 Kansas State 7, No. 8 Kansas 1 – 3 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 10 – No. 2 Oklahoma State vs. No. 7 Oklahoma – 6:30 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Saturday, May 27
Game 11 – No. 4 TCU vs. No. 5 Kansas State – 9 a.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 12 – No. 6 Texas Tech vs. Game 10 Winner – 12:30 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 13 – Game 11 Loser vs. Game 11 Winner (if necessary) – 4 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 14 – Game 12 Loser vs. Game 12 Winner (if necessary) – 4 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Sunday, May 28
Game 15 – Championship Game – 5 p.m. – ESPNU
All times listed as Central and subject to change