Second-inning implosion costly as Texas drops baseball series opener at Kansas State

After landing a few punches Thursday night, the Texas Longhorns were dealt a knockout blow.

Texas jumped out to an early lead, but No. 23 Kansas State scored eight runs in the second inning on the way to a 14-6 win in Manhattan, Kan., in the opening game of the Big 12 series between the Longhorns (15-11) and Wildcats (18-6, 6-1).

Texas got early home runs from Jalin Flores, who hit a solo shot in the opening inning, and Dee Kennedy, who had a two-run blast in the second. But in the bottom of the second, Kansas State's offense exploded as UT's pitching imploded. The Wildcats sent 13 batters to the plate and took an 8-2 lead. There were five hits and five walks. The Longhorns also committed an error and threw a run-scoring wild pitch.

As Kansas State took control of the game, Texas used three pitchers. Staff ace Lebarron Johnson Jr. was pulled after allowing the first six batters to reach base in the second, and neither Cody Howard nor Hudson Hamilton fared much better in relief. In his worst start of the season, Johnson was tagged for five hits, six earned runs and two walks during a 43-pitch outing.

After the second inning, Kansas State expanded its lead to as much as 11 runs. Texas never cut into that six-run deficit.

Texas and Kansas State will resume their series in Manhattan at 6 p.m. Friday. UT left-hander Ace Whitehead (2-0, 2.05 ERA) is scheduled to pitch against fellow lefty Jacob Frost (2-0, 5.67).