No. 10-seeded Utah lost its first-ever Big 12 baseball tournament game as No. 11-seeded Kansas State used a four-run eighth inning to defeat the Utes 9-5 in Surprise, Arizona.
In a back-and-forth game, Kansas State retook the lead for good in the top of the eighth on an error by Ute catcher Derek Smith. Smith tried to nab Carlos Vasquez on a pitchout to third base, but his throw was off the mark and into left field, allowing Vasquez to score the go-ahead run.
That was just the start of the Utes’ woes in the frame, as Cadyn Karl singled, stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Dee Kennedy brought him home with an RBI single that put Kansas State up 7-5.
A two-RBI single by Ty Smolinski later in the inning increased the Wildcats’ lead to 9-5.
Jake Long, a consistent offensive presence for the Utes and an All-Big 12 second team honoree, broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning with a double to right field that brought home two runs and advanced to third on an error by Kansas State right fielder Kyan Lodice.
Earlier in the inning, Smith and Luke Jacobs singled to set Long up for the Utes’ first runs of the day.
After Daniel Arambula walked, Cal Miller continued the momentum with an RBI single that scored Long to put Utah up 3-0.
Kansas State struck back in the top of the sixth inning with a two-run homer by AJ Evasco.
The Wildcats took their first lead of the game in the top of the seventh with an RBI triple from Kennedy, followed by a Lodice single that gave Kansas State a 4-3 advantage. Kansas State would build on its lead later in the inning on a sacrifice fly from Bear Madliak that scored Lodice, who advanced to third on a Smolinski single and a wild pitch.
That lead didn’t last long, however, as the Utes answered with a two-run bottom of the seventh. Jacobs hit a solo homer to right field to cut the deficit to one, then Long hit a double and advanced to third on an Arambula fly-out.
Miller’s sacrifice fly brought Long home to tie the game before the Wildcats broke it open in the eighth.
In a surprise move, Utah started pitcher Demitri Diamant, who had pitched 37 innings in relief this season but hadn’t started a game. Coach Gary Henderson’s decision paid off, as Diamant pitched three innings, allowing two hits and three walks but no runs.
Utah’s pitching staff — Diamant, Ian Culver and Easton Jones — kept a clean sheet through five innings before things started to unravel for the Utes in the later frames.