ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kaelen Culpepper went 4 for 5 with five RBIs — including a three-run home run in the bottom of the second inning — and German Fajardo allowed five hits over 7 1/3 innings to help Kansas State beat Kansas 7-1 Friday in an elimination game at the Big 12 Tournament.
No. 5 seed Kansas State (35-23) plays fourth-seeded TCU — which beat the Wildcats 16-3 in the tournament’s opening game — in the semifinals Saturday.
Nick Goodwin led off the bottom of the second inning with a walk and Brady Day followed with a single before Culpepper hit a shot to left that made it 3-0.
Goodwin drew a two-out walk in the seventh before Day hit a 0-2 pitch down the line in left for a double. Culpepper drove in both runners with a single to make it 7-1.
Fajardo (4-4) had a season-high nine strikeouts.
Jake English went 2 for 3 with a solo homer in the third for No. 8 seed Kansas (25-32).