MANHATTAN, Kan. (Interstat) — Zack James authored a masterful performance on the mound, carrying a no-hit bid into the ninth inning as the Texas Christian Horned Frogs shut out the Kansas State Wildcats 4-0 on Sunday afternoon to claim the decisive game of their Big 12 series at Tointon Family Stadium.

The Horned Frogs, who evened the series after a split of the first two games, provided James with all the offense he would need in the first two innings. They plated three runs against Kansas State starter Miguel Flores, who lasted just two-plus innings.

In the first, TCU’s Kade Arthur was hit by a pitch, Cole Cramer singled and Karson Strosnider walked to load the bases with no outs. Payton Brunson’s sacrifice fly brought in Arthur for the first run. The Horned Frogs added two more in the second when Cramer laced a two-run double to right field, scoring Logan Bell and Anthony Franco.

James, a right-hander, was dominant from the outset. He retired the first eight batters he faced before hitting Chuck Karl with a pitch in the third inning. The Wildcats did not manage a baserunner again until the fifth, when AJ Evasco singled sharply to center field for what stood as Kansas State’s only hit against James.

The TCU ace worked efficiently, mixing his pitches to record five strikeouts while inducing a pair of crucial double-play grounders in the third and fourth innings to erase any potential threats. He faced just three batters over the minimum through eight innings.

TCU added an insurance run in the fifth when Brady Dallimore launched a solo home run an estimated 400 feet to center field off reliever Aaron Arnold, extending the lead to 4-0.

James returned to the mound for the ninth inning, still pursuing the no-hitter, but was relieved by Walter Quinn after surrendering a leadoff double to Bear Madliak. Quinn promptly recorded the final three outs, stranding Madliak at second to secure the combined shutout and the series victory for the Horned Frogs.

The most important sequence of the game came in the early innings, as TCU’s quick offensive strikes and James’ immediate establishment of control on the mound set a tone from which Kansas State never recovered. The Wildcats, who had rallied for a 13-12 win in the series opener, were never able to mount a sustained challenge against James’ command.

Cramer led the TCU offense with three hits and two RBIs, while the Horned Frogs collected 12 hits overall. Madliak had two of Kansas State’s six hits, including the ninth-inning double.

With the win, Texas Christian improved to 20-11 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 play. Kansas State fell to 19-11 and 2-4 in the conference. The victory defied the pregame projection from Interstat, whose simulator had forecast a high-scoring 8-7 TCU win, though its ELO rating system had favored the Horned Frogs with a 58% probability to win.

Texas Christian travels to face Abilene Christian on Tuesday. Kansas State will visit in-state foe Wichita State, also on Tuesday.