Kansas

Aloy brothers' blasts not enough in loss to Kansas State

Published

1 year ago

February 21, 2025

Aloy brothers' blasts not enough in loss to Kansas State

ARLINGTON — The No. 5 Arkansas Razorbacks (4-1, 0-0 SEC) lost Game 1 of their College Baseball Series slate Friday evening against the Kansas State Wildcats (2-4, 0-0 Big 12), 3-2, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Led by right-handed starting pitcher Gabe Gaeckle, who sludged his way through 5.2 innings with two strikeouts, four walks, two earned runs and five allowed hits, the Diamond Hogs were tagged with eight hits and four drawn walks by Wildcat hitters.

Kansas State struck first in the top of the third, when a two-out walk and eventual stolen base allowed Wildcat infielder Dee Kennedy to single home the first run of the game. Kansas State extended its lead to 2-0 in the fourth when a leadoff double by Maximus Martin came around to score on an RBI single.

Gaeckle was relieved in the top of the sixth by right-hander Tate McGuire, who ended his day as the losing pitcher with 1.1 innings of one-strikeout, zero-walk, one-earned run, two-hit baseball.

After an offensive pressure buildup through the first five innings, Arkansas finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Shortstop Wehiwa Aloy crushed a home run over the right-field wall to get the Hogs on the board, and his brother Kuhio Aloy cranked a 117.1 MPH homer to left to tie the game, 2-2.

That score didn’t last long, as a Kansas State single and double off of McGuire sandwiched around a popup handed the Wildcats a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh.

Arkansas didn’t go quietly in the ninth, still down 3-2, as experienced outfielder Kendall Diggs poked a leadoff single into left field to get the gears turning. A warning track flyout by catcher Ryder Helfrick drew ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ from the Arkansas faithful in the crowd, but it wasn’t enough to advance Diggs. Following a Nolan Souza swing and miss, the game came to an end when center fielder Justin Thomas Jr. grounded out to third base.

In total, Arkansas’ offense finished 7-for-32 at the plate, 1-for-14 with runners on base and 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. Leading the way was Wehiwa Aloy, who went 2-for-4 at the plate with his home run, one RBI and one walk.

Between three bullpen relievers — McGuire, lefty Parker Coil and righty Will McEntire — the Hogs gave up three hits and one earned run with one strikeout and zero walks in 3.1 innings combined.

To start off his day inside the welcoming confines of the Texas Rangers’ ballpark, Gaeckle made quick work of the first two Wildcats behind a flyout and groundout. The no-hit bid was broken up when third baseman Dee Kennedy singled on a bunt that Arkansas third baseman Brent Iredale couldn’t quite handle.

Kansas State walked to give itself two men on, but a smashed line drive to left center was caught by Charles Davalan for the final out.

Leading things off for Arkansas was Davalan, who pulled a fastball into right field directly toward Kansas State’s shift for the easy out. A Wehiwa Aloy strikeout then brought Brent Iredale to the dish, who promptly crushed a gapper to right for a two-out double. Iredale was stranded there when Kuhio Aloy swung and miss to bring the first inning to a close.

Once Arkansas offseason transfer commitment Maximus Martin led off the top of the second for Kansas State, but he started his day 0-for-1 after popping up in the infield. The Wildcats picked up hit No. 2 on a single up the middle, but a double play started by Wehiwa Aloy capped the frame.

Wildcat lefty starter Jacob Frost picked up his first 1-2-3 outing of the day after drawing a first-pitch bunt groundout from Rocco Peppi, a strikeout from Kendall Diggs and a well-struck flyout from Ryder Helfrick.

Gaeckle struck out his first batter of the day to begin the top of the third, a fastball on the white to first baseman David Bishop. Following a groundball out to Aloy, Gaeckle issued his second walk of the day to center fielder Micah Dean, who stole second to give Kansas State a runner in scoring position. A base hit by Kennedy snuck under Iredale’s glove at third, which allowed Dean to come around and score the first run of the game.

It was clear that Gaeckle didn’t have his best stuff, but it was still enough to get Arkansas out of the jam without allowing anymore runs to cross home plate. At the end of the top of the third, Kansas State led, 1-0.

Following a Nolan Souza first-pitch bunt groundout back to the pitcher, Justin Thomas Jr., aka HawgBeat’s “Moneyball guy”, struck out looking on a pitch that was inside off the plate, according to BaseballSavant. A full-count walk by Davalan gave Wehiwa Aloy a two-out opportunity, but he lined out to right field to end the threat.

Martin led off again in the fourth and this time made the most of it by sending a fastball down the left-field line for a double off of Gaeckle, who fielded a bunt attempt and made the throw over to first for the first out. Kansas State took a 2-0 lead on a single to right field by Shintaro Inoue, but he was left on base after a pop fly out.

A leadoff walk by Iredale and subsequent 2-0 count to Kuhio Aloy led to a mound visit for Kansas State, but it went to waste once Kuhio Aloy grounded out, Peppi popped up and Diggs flied out to left.

Despite him getting up there in pitch count, Gaeckle returned to the mound in the fifth for Arkansas. He finally got some reprieve, as well, as he forced three-straight groundouts on only 11 pitches to continue his day.

In dire need of some offensive flow, Helfrick got things going for the Hogs in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff single to right center field. However, a Souza strikeout, Thomas strikeout and Davalan groundout halted any momentum for Arkansas.

Gaeckle shockingly took over the mound again in the sixth. Kansas State seemingly led things off with a single, but the runner failed to touch first and was thrown out as a result. Gaeckle picked up punchout No. 2 on Martin, but a walk to Bear Madliak forced Dave Van Horn into a pitching change.

Right-handed pitcher Tate McGuire was called upon to get the final out of the sixth, and that he did on a groundball to Wehiwa Aloy.

Run No. 1 for the Razorbacks came in the bottom of the sixth, when Wehiwa Aloy smacked an oppo-blast just over the right field wall to bring Kansas State’s lead down to 2-1. Despite a collective ‘woah’ from fans in the crowd, Iredale’s flyball into center field was nothing more than a can of corn out. But the ‘woahs’ didn’t stop there, because Kuhio Aloy took hold of a pitch and crushed it to left field for a game-tying home run.

With only one out in the frame, Kansas State handed the ball off to righty reliever Blake Dean, who had to face pinch-hitter Cam Kozeal. In true Charlie-Welch fashion, Kozeal pummeled a ball to the gap in right field for a double. The inning finally came to an end after a Diggs strikeout and Helfrick hard-hit lineout.

McGuire continued his relief outing in the top of the seventh and things quickly went awry for the sophomore, as Kansas State struck him for a single and a double to regain the lead, 3-2. McGuire bounced back, though, with a successful pickoff at second base and a strikeout to end the frame.

Back-to-back strikeouts by Souza and Thomas started the bottom of the seventh for the Razorbacks, but a hit-by-pitch on Davalan still left hope in the air. Wehiwa Aloy hit a rocket single straight up the middle to advance Davalan, who attempted to advance to third but was caught for the final out.

Arkansas pitching coach Matt Hobbs called upon lefty Parker Coil in the top of the eighth, and he justified the decision by going 1-2-3 against the Wildcats’ batters.

Six outs evaporated to three outs in the bottom of the eighth, as Arkansas went in order behind an Iredale groundout, Kuhio Aloy strikeout and Kozeal flyout.

Veteran righty Will McEntire came in to shut the door in the top of the ninth, but he immediately gave up a single to the Madliak. A groundout pushed the runner over to second base and a wild pitch advanced him to third. A flyout to Thomas in shallow center prompted a tag-up from Madliak at third, and he was called out at home to end the frame.

With three outs to go, Diggs came up with a clutch leadoff oppo single to left field to ignite a spark in the dugout. Helfrick sent a ball all the way to the warning track in deep left for the first out, and Souza followed suit with a swing and miss for out No. 2. The game ended on a Thomas groundout to third base.

Up next, the Razorbacks will face the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday evening at Globe Life Field. First pitch for that game is set for 6 p.m. CT and it will stream on FloSports.

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Kansas

Homegrown Jayhawk stars ready to shine at Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City

Published

12 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Homegrown Jayhawk stars ready to shine at Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City

LAWRENCE, Kan. (KCTV) – As Kansas women’s basketball prepares to enter the postseason at the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, they’ll be led by two Overland Park natives who have been two of the most electrifying players to watch in the country this year.

Junior guard S’Mya Nichols and freshman forward Jaliya Davis have played integral roles in the recent growth of the program. Both cite the desire to help grow the Jayhawks into something special as reasons for committing there.

“Where we wanted to take Kansas women’s basketball, I wanted to be a part of that growing evolution,” Nichols told KCTV5.

“We [my family] were also really big Jayhawk fans. We came to a lot of games,” Davis said about her childhood.

The two were both 5-star recruits in high school, and their commitments marked historic recruiting victories for the KU women’s basketball program.

First came Nichols in the Class of 2023, picking KU over Tennessee and Oklahoma.

“I genuinely wanted to go to Kansas,” she said.

Then Davis became the highest-rated player to ever commit to KU as part of the Class of 2025.

“When you go back to S’Mya Nichols being a local, Kansas City, Overland Park product, a nationally respected player, Jaliya was really the next one that was very important for the Jayhawks to keep home,” said head coach Brandon Schneider.

Now as a junior, Nichols has established herself as one of the most consistent scorers and physical guards in the nation.

But it’s the Shawnee Mission West’s alum’s leadership that defines her legacy in Lawrence.

“The team leader, the quarterback,” Coach Schneider described Nichols. “I think oftentimes the player that everybody looks up to off the court.”

“I mean it means everything. Knowing that I’m important to the team, and that they see me as that as well,” said Nichols with a smile.

Both Nichols and Davis were recruited by the Jayhawks for years, going all the way back to seventh grade.

“Well, we offered her in middle school,’ Coach Schneider said with a laugh about Davis.

“Oh he put in a lot of work,” laughed Davis. “I mean, obviously, seventh grade, that’s a long time.”

It was that dedication from Coach Schneider that led her to choose the Jayhawks over Texas, South Carolina, Baylor, and Oklahoma – where he dad played ball.

“I think it really was the relationship we had and grew. He was always there, every single one of my games,” Davis said about Schneider.

After just one practice as teammates, Nichols voiced a big belief about Davis into existence – and it’s probably going to come true.

The Jayhawks are the 11-seed in the Big 12 Tournament, and will face 14-seed UCF in the first round on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.(KCTV5)

“I saw her first practice, and I sent her a text, and I’m like ‘I think you can win Freshman of the Year’, and I still stand by that,”

Davis is averaging 21.0 points per game, and has been named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week for eight weeks in a row. That sets a power conference all-time record.

“I think it’s really cool. I mean obviously it’s a team effort, they’re always looking for me,” Davis said about her historic accomplishment.

“Just a phenomenal stretch of basketball for her, and so well deserving,” said Coach Schneider.

Now these two homegrown stars are at the forefront of a late-season push to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Right now, CBS Sports bracketology has them as a ‘First Four Out’ team.

But a few wins in the Big 12 Tournament could certainly help seal their invite to the big dance.

“Obviously we’re not in the position that we were hoping to be in, but I think we can make the most out of it, and get to where we want to be,” Davis said about the opportunity at hand in the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City.

The Overland Park kids are especially fired up about starting the postseason in their own backyard.

“I have a big support system. So I bet my family will take a big chunk of that area during that tournament,” Davis laughed.

“I remember being younger, and the College Basketball Experience is right next door. So I felt like at one moment that was the big stage, when I got to play my little AAU tournaments in there. And then all of a sudden I’m literally in T-Mobile Center on the actual big stage, so it’s pretty cool,” said Nichols.

The Jayhawks are the 11-seed in the Big 12 Tournament, and will face 14-seed UCF in the first round on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.

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Kansas

Why Matthew Driscoll continues to say Kansas State is ‘close’

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Why Matthew Driscoll continues to say Kansas State is ‘close’

MANHATTAN — David Castillo sank his free throw to finish off a three-point play to cut TCU’s lead to two late in the second half. Kansas State had a chance to play spoiler to a team that was on the NCAA Tournament bubble.

For the previous 36 minutes, the Wildcats were more engaged than they had been all season. You wouldn’t have recognized they were just under two weeks removed from their head coach getting fired. The Wildcats were in the middle of a competitive basketball game when there haven’t been many this season.

And then the final four minutes happened, and the Wildcats lost once again.

Kansas State pulled within one score six different times in the second half against the Horned Frogs, only to never take a lead, and then go 4 minutes, 4 seconds without a point after Castillo’s late bucket, leading to a 77-68 loss.

K-State interim coach Matthew Driscoll compared the loss to a broken record, when the Wildcats have been close late, only to fall apart in the end.

“We get there, and then, for whatever reason, we can’t break through,” Driscoll said. “When we got it to a one-point game, I thought that this was when we were going to turn the corner. It just seems like we keep getting close, and we can’t break through that wall.”

Kansas State (11-18, 2-14 Big 12) has been within striking distance in a handful of games this season, only to go on lengthy scoring droughts and come up short in the end.

While there are plenty of games in which the Wildcats were blown out or didn’t show half the effort they showed against the Horned Frogs, there have been enough games that if the Wildcats finished, they wouldn’t be fighting to not finish at the bottom of the Big 12 standings.

K-State’s Feb. 25 loss to Colorado is another example, having two five-plus-minute spurts in which it didn’t score a point. The Wildcats held late leads against West Virginia and Oklahoma State, and in their first game against TCU, only to choke away those leads.

“There’s a lot of frustration,” Khamari McGriff said. “It’s been a fight to continue to focus on the next right thing and let whatever has happened in the past, and just try to get to a point where we can compete for 40 minutes. We gotta look at it with the perspective that we’ve been close a lot of times, and we just gotta figure out how to take that next step.”

Kansas State is running out of opportunities to achieve that “next step.” The Wildcats have a home game on Tuesday, March 3, against a beatable West Virginia team before closing the regular season at Kansas on March 7. After that, it would be surprising if the Wildcats get more than two games at the Big 12 Tournament.

But Driscoll hasn’t seen his team quit, which is almost all he can ask for after what has been a season to forget.

“We just haven’t completed the deal,” Driscoll said.

Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com

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Kansas Highway Patrol reports five-vehicle crash in Johnson Co. Friday

Published

2 days ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Kansas Highway Patrol reports five-vehicle crash in Johnson Co. Friday

JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. (WIBW) – Multiple people were involved in a five-vehicle crash Friday in Johnson County.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol Crash Log, the crash occurred around 4:55 p.m. on Interstate 35.

Five vehicles: a 2021 Toyota Tacoma, a 2010 Toyota Sienna, a 2014 Honda Pilot, a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, and a 2018 Ford Mustang, were all traveling northbound on the I-35 long ramp to 75th Street.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma exited the roadway to the right and struck the rear of the 2010 Toyota Sienna.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma then continued northbound and struck the 2024 Honda Pilot.

The Honda Pilot was pushed and struck the rear of the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, which then lost control and struck the 2018 Ford Mustang. The Chevrolet Malibu then struck the barrier wall.

There were no serious injuries reported in the incident.

The driver of the Toyota Tacoma, a 28-year-old male of Kansas City, Kan., was taken to a hospital with a possible injury. He was wearing a safety restraint.

The Toyota Sienna driver, a 23-year-old female, of Merriam, Kan., had no apparent injuries and was wearing a safety restraint.

The Honda Pilot driver, a 75-year-old male of Lenexa, Kan., had no apparent injuries and was wearing a safety restraint.

The driver of the Chevrolet Malibu, a 31-year-old female of Kansas City, Kan., had no apparent injuries and was wearing a safety restraint.

The 2018 Ford Mustang held two occupants. The driver, a 19-year-old male of Garden Plain, Kan., had no apparent injuries and was wearing a safety restraint.

The other occupant in the vehicle was an 18-year-old female of Goddard, Kan. She did not have any apparent injuries and was wearing a safety restraint.

View the full Kansas Highway Patrol Crash log on this incident here.

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