K-State’s Bats Explode for First Win of Season

BEAUMONT, Texas – Kansas State scored eight runs on 18 hits and Ben Hornbeck, Chase Bayuk and Justin Lindsey combined for a five-hit shutout as the Wildcats pick up their first win of the season, defeating Michigan State, 8-0, during the second game of Cardinal Classic at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

The 18 Wildcat hits were the most since they had 18 against St. John’s last season on March 2 at the Lamar Classic. K-State pounded out four doubles – two by freshman Carter Jurica – and Justin Bloxom added a home run. The Cats were also aggressive on the on the base paths as four Wildcats recorded a stolen base.

Hornbeck (1-0) was amazing in his first start of the season, pitching five scoreless innings and giving up just two hits. He also struck out four of the 20 batters he faced. Bayuk followed with two scoreless innings and Lindsey, a true freshman, threw no-hit ball the final two innings in his collegiate debut.

Kansas State got things going early as Hornbeck sat down the Spartans 1-2-3 in the first inning and received instant run support from his offensive mates as the Wildcats were able to plate two runs in the bottom half of first. Jurica doubled to the left field line and Jordan Cruz followed with another two-base hit – this one to right centerfield – which scored Jurica from second. Drew Biery then followed with a single to right field, which brought home Cruz and gave the Cats an early 2-0 lead.

After a scoreless second inning, Hornbeck worked out of a jam in the third as the Spartans got a leadoff single by Jonathan Roof and he advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by his brother, Eric Roof. Brandon Doherty singled to short, which advanced Jonathan Roof to third, and Doherty moved to second on another sac bunt by A.J. Shindler. But Hornbeck settled down and was able to strike out Kyle Day on a full count to get out of the inning.

K-State doubled its margin in the fifth as the Cats scratched across another two runs. Cruz registered a one-out single through the right side and then stole second base. Bloxom followed and was able to smash a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall for a two-run homer, K-State’s first multi-RBI home run of the season.

The Wildcats broke away in the sixth as they put a three-spot on Spartan relievers Brandy Eckerle and A.J. Dunn. J.J. Muse led off the inning with a walk, stole second base and was then advanced to third on a Dane Yelovich sacrifice bunt. Adam Munester followed with a RBI single through the left side to score Muse. Jurica continued the inning with his second double of the day, this time to deep left centerfield. Muenster moved to third on the play and both he and Jurica scored on a two-RBI single by Cruz to left.

The Cats grabbed one more run in the eighth when Jason King got a pinch-hit RBI to score Derek Bunker.

Kansas State will face host school Lamar on Saturday in its third game of the Cardinal Classic. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Vincent-Beck Stadium.