AUSTIN, Texas — In a thrilling contest during the Austin Regional, Keegan O’Connor made history with a record-setting three-run homer, and Lincoln Sheffield pitched impressively for 6 2/3 innings, propelling Kansas State to a 7-4 victory over Houston Christian on Saturday. This win secured Kansas State (32-25) a spot in Sunday’s elimination game, where they will face the loser of the Saturday night showdown between Texas and UTSA.
Houston Christian (32-25), under the guidance of first-year head coach Clay Vanderlaan, experienced a remarkable season with a 14-game improvement from last year, marking their second regional tournament appearance. Interestingly, O’Connor’s home run, his 17th of the year, broke Kansas State’s single-season home run record, previously set at 16 in 1997 by Scott Poepard and Heath Schesser. This significant moment gave Kansas State a commanding 5-0 advantage by the third inning, while O’Connor’s homer increased his RBIs to 59.
The Wildcats’ bid for a shutout was disrupted in the eighth inning when Rhett Hendricks hit a two-run single up the middle for Houston Christian. Kansas State responded effectively by scoring two more runs through a passed ball and a sacrifice fly, extending their lead to 7-2. In the ninth, Jeremy Rader blasted a two-run homer for Houston Christian, narrowing the gap to a three-run lead before Kansas State sealed the win.
Sheffield demonstrated superb pitching skill by allowing only four hits and striking out six batters, recording his seventh win of the season (7-4). On the other side, Joshua Caravalho (9-4) pitched for 3 2/3 innings, conceding six hits and five runs, four of which were earned, and issued one walk.
Additionally, this victory marked a milestone for Coach Pete Hughes, who became the fastest coach to achieve 200 wins in Kansas State’s history.