Kansas State looked to break its seven-game losing streak on Friday, but failed to do so.

With hot bats from the get-go, the Cincinnati Bearcats scored their first run off a Wildcat error, leading to an unearned run.

In the top of the second, Cincinnati’s Enzo Infelise sent the ball 373 feet for a solo home run, extending the Bearcats’ lead to 2-0.

After a silent third and a half innings, Ty Smolinski doubled to right field, scoring Bear Madliak for K-State’s first run of the game. Then, to tie the game at 2-2, Grant Gallagher hit a hard line drive — deflecting off the shortstop’s glove — getting him to first base while also scoring Smolinski from second.

The fifth and sixth innings were hushed before the Bearcats scored in the top of the seventh on an infield single.

“I’ll take the blame for the unsuccessful squeeze,” K-State head coach Pete Hughes said. “Tried to ignite things around here with a momentum play that could’ve put us up two heading into the seventh inning at home. Unfortunately, it didn’t go that way, but we will continue to play to win despite the results.”

Following the lead change, Miles Smith replaced Tazwell Butler, who went 6.2 innings, giving up three runs on five hits and striking out five batters.

The Wildcats struggled at the plate after Cincinnati made a pitching change of its own. With one out already on the board, Madliak struck out swinging, and AJ Evasco hit a line drive to shortstop, ending the eighth inning.

In the ninth with no outs, K-State swapped out Smith — who pitched 1.2 innings with three strikeouts — for Adam Arther. The lefty gave up one hit along with a walk. Becoming a pattern, the Wildcats reached back into the bullpen, placing Aaron Arnold on the hill for Arther. Arnold finished the remainder of the eighth, striking out a Bearcat looking.

During Nick English’s at-bat, Cincinnati’s Adam Buczkowski committed a balk, advancing Gallagher to second base and into scoring position. English walked on a full count, but the Wildcats could not convert baserunners into runs.

“I thought we played a good game,” Hughes said. “Tazwell Butler pitched well enough to win and it was good to see Ty Smolinski and Grant Gallagher produce a couple of two-out RBIs. It’s something we can build on.”

K-State’s Butler took the loss to move his season record to 0-4, as the Wildcats found themselves defeated again, 4-2. The loss extends their losing streak to eight games.

The purple and white look to bounce back in game two against the Bearcats tomorrow at 4 p.m.