LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — Drew Markle launched a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning Wednesday, lifting Louisiana-Lafayette to a 3-2 victory over Kansas State in a tense, pitching-dominated midweek series finale at M.L. Tigue Moore Field.

The Ragin’ Cajuns, who improved to 7-2, took two of three games in the series after a 1-0 win Tuesday. The Wildcats fell to 6-3.

The most important part of the game was a relentless pitcher’s duel that saw both bullpens dominate until the final swing. After combining for just one run through the first 17 innings of the series, the offenses remained largely stifled again until late drama unfolded.

Louisiana-Lafayette struck first in the opening inning. Conor Dee doubled and scored on Alex Hernandez’s sacrifice fly, providing an early 1-0 lead that would hold for much of the afternoon thanks to starter Tyler Papenbrock.

Papenbrock, named the top star for the Cajuns, delivered five shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three. He set the tone, working efficiently to quiet a Wildcats lineup that had averaged over eight runs per game this season.

Kansas State finally broke through in the sixth against reliever Cole Flanagan. David Kennedy doubled and scored on a sharp RBI single by Grant Gallagher, tying the game 1-1.

The Wildcats then took their first lead of the series in the top of the ninth when Gallagher hammered a solo home run to center field off Parker Smith, putting Kansas State ahead 2-1.

The lead was short-lived. In the bottom of the eighth, the Cajuns capitalized on a Kansas State error to tie it. Pinch-runner Jace Lim stole second, advanced to third on a strikeout, and then scored on a throwing error by the first baseman on the same play, making it 2-2.

Both teams had chances in extra innings. Kansas State put a runner on in the 10th but saw him caught stealing. Louisiana-Lafayette’s Dee walked to lead off the bottom of the 11th but was promptly thrown out attempting to steal.

That brought Markle to the plate with two outs and the bases empty. On a 1-1 count from Wildcats reliever Cohen Feser, the third baseman connected, sending a line drive over the left-field wall to end the game and set off a celebration at home plate.

The pitching was exceptional throughout. Following Papenbrock, Bryce Wilson and Smith combined for five innings of relief, allowing just one run on two hits. For Kansas State, starter Matthew Flores allowed one unearned run over 3 2/3 innings. Tazwell Butler was brilliant in relief, tossing 4 1/3 hitless innings with four strikeouts before the Wildcats’ bullpen faltered late.

Gallagher was the offensive standout for Kansas State, going 2 for 4 with a home run, a single, and both Wildcats RBIs. Markle finished 2 for 5 with the decisive homer for the Cajuns.

Kansas State out-hit Louisiana-Lafayette 7 to 5 but went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat, which gave Kansas State a slight 51.2% probability to win and forecasted a high-scoring 8-7 outcome.

Kansas State returns home to open a three-game series against Columbia on Friday. Louisiana-Lafayette remains at home to host UC San Diego for a three-game set starting the same day.