Left-handed pitcher Michael Quevedo pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings, followed by right-hander James Guyette, who went the rest of the way, leading Kansas State to a 3-1 victory for Kansas State.
“Michael Quevedo did a really good job of keeping them off balance and then James Guyette, they were not comfortable versus Jimmy [James],” head coach Pete Hughes said.
Quevedo allowed an early run in the second inning but was great the rest of the day, inducing soft contact to notch easy outs.
Guyette was brilliant in his outing as he struck out four hitters and didn’t allow a hit all afternoon. The only batter to reach against Guyette was by a hit-by-pitch in the seventh, which Guyette worked around with no issues.
“Michael [Quevedo] did not want to come out of the game, but he was the loudest rooting for Jimmy [James] Guyette to get that last out of that inning,” Hughes said. “The pitching unit is really tight.”
On the mound for UCF was right-handed pitcher Russell Sandefer, who came into the game with a 1.80 ERA in 12 appearances. Sandefer had been a bullpen guy until today where he made his first start of the season.
As good as Quevedo was for the ‘Cats, Sandefer was better as he went five innings, allowed no runs and struck out four batters. His stuff was giving the Wildcats trouble in the early part of the game.
K-State scored all of its runs in the sixth inning, with two runs coming on an opposite-field double by freshman AJ Evasco. The next batter, sophomore Dee Kennedy, singled up the middle to score Evasco and extended the ‘Cats lead.
In that sixth inning, designated hitter Sam Flores reached base but left the game due to an apparent injury he suffered running down the line. Flores has been swinging the bat well lately, so getting him back will be big for the ‘Cats lineup.
“[Flores’] work ethic never changed whether his name was on that lineup or not,” Hughes said. “He has a hot bat, he is probably swinging the best bat for us, so it’s really important for our lineup. Great model for our younger guys, he’s the best.”
One of the other hot hitters in the Wildcats lineup is Bear Madliak, who homered twice on Tuesday and followed it up with two more hits today and, if not for an unlucky deflection off the pitcher, would have had three hits.
“His approach is outstanding, his swing is not complicated, there is not much to it, and that allows him to be consistent,” Hughes said.
With the win, K-State is back in the win column in Big 12 play after losing four consecutive conference games. K-State will now go for the series win on Sunday at 1 p.m. with Lincoln Sheffield on the mound.
“We got to play good defense, Lincoln [Sheffield] usually doesn’t walk anyone, we can’t walk anyone,” Hughes said. “We have to keep those lefties off balance and get comfortable in the box against us. Hopefully, today will carry over into tomorrow.”
