SURPRISE, Ariz. (Interstat) — Kansas State pounded out 14 hits and built an early lead to defeat Texas Christian 9-4 on Wednesday in the Big 12 Baseball Championship. The Wildcats (29-25) scored twice in the first inning and added three in the third behind Ty Smolinski, who finished with a double, triple and four RBIs. AJ Evasco added a triple and two RBIs. The Horned Frogs (33-21) got on the board in the fifth on a double by Noah Franco and a single by Rob Liddington Jr. Kansas State answered with two runs in the sixth. TCU scored two unearned runs in the seventh but could not complete the rally. Cohen Feser, Tazwell Butler and Adam Arther handled the pitching for Kansas State. Preston Gamster, Franco, Liddington and Jack Arthur keyed the TCU offense, with Franco also pitching. Trever Baumler and Walter Quinn saw mound duty for the Horned Frogs. Kansas State plays West Virginia on Thursday.