K-State Slate: 4.19.15 - Getting the run game off the ground

Something has to be done about the Kansas State rushing attack (Ken Corbitt, Topeka Capital-Journal). Last season, for the first time since 1989, Kansas State did not have a single 100-yard rushing game from a running back. Charles Jones split time with DeMarcus Robinson last year and finished the season with a team-high 540 yards. Although he's currently at the top of the depth chart, he's getting a stiff challenge from newcomers Dalvin Warmack, Alex Barnes and Justin Silmon, as well as from junior Jarvis Leverett who missed most of the last season with an injury.

Maybe the problem is not lack of production at running back, but the overemphasis on the quarterback running game. Jake Waters had two 100-yard rushing games himself last year, after all.

The current season of Kansas State baseball can be summed up with a single word: inconsistent. After a come-from-behind win over Texas Tech on Friday, the BatCats could not maintain the momentum and lost the game 7-1. The team fell behind early, giving up four runs in the first inning and three in the third inning to go down. Tech's starting pitcher, Cameron Smith, pitched a near-shutout and retired 11 straight players before Kansas State managed a hit. His counterpart on the Wildcats side was not so lucky. Brandon Courville began the game with two strikeouts but walked the next batter and never quite recovered from there.

The rubber match starts today at 1 PM, but Kansas State has not announced a starting pitcher.

The men's golf team improved a little over the course of the day yesterday to finish the day at 12-over par 300 and in a tie for ninth place at the Hawkeye Intercollegiate. Matt Green, at 4-over par 148, is the leading Wildcat, currently tied for 33rd on the leaderboard. Sunday play is already underway.

On the women's side, Kansas State slipped from a tie for 2nd to a fourth place, but are still expected to finish in the top five at the Lady Buckeye Invitational. Madison Talley is leading the Wildcats. She shot an even-par 144 yesterday, good for third place on the leaderboard. The final round of play began this morning at 9 AM.

You can catch live scoring of both events at GolfStat.

Kansas State almost pulled off an upset against No. 31 Texas before falling 4-2, their fifth consecutive loss in the Big 12. The Longhorns went 2-0 in the doubles to take the point, but the Wildcats kept things interesting in the singles. Texas won the first two matches before Kansas State forced a tie by taking the next two matches. Livia Cirnu picked up her 16th win of the season, beating the aptly named Pippa Horn 6-2, 6-4 in the number four singles match. Shortly after that, freshman Carolina Costamagna beat Breaunna Addison 7-6, 6-3. It was just the second Big 12 singles win for Costamagna and her first over a nationally ranked opponent.

Kansas State wraps up its regular season today against No. 7 Baylor in Waco.