K-State Falls to #24 Florida Atlantic, 6-2
Mar 18, 2003 | Baseball
March 18, 2003
Boca Raton, Fla. - Junior first baseman Rusty Brown connected on a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to highlight a 2-for-2 evening with two RBIs and two runs scored, as 24th-ranked Florida Atlantic came from behind to defeat Kansas State, 6-2, on Tuesday evening at FAU Field. The game was delayed one hour and 20 minutes due to rain.
With the win, Florida Atlantic improved to 20-6 on the season, while Kansas State fell to 9-8 overall with the loss. For the second consecutive day, the Wildcat offense was held to season-lows in both runs scored and hits with just two runs on five hits.
Kansas State jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs on three hits and an error. Junior outfielder Brad Anzman led off the inning by reaching base on an error by the first baseman then moved to second base on senior outfielder Gabe Luttrell's ground out to the third baseman. Junior third baseman Ty Soto singled to left field to move Anzman to third, but was picked off trying to steal second. With two outs and a runner on third, senior outfielder Pat Maloney plated Anzman with a single to center field to give Kansas State a 1-0 lead. After a steal by Maloney, senior first baseman Tim Doty singled to left field to score Maloney for a 2-0 advantage.
Florida Atlantic responded with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning to take the lead at 3-2. Freshman shortstop Alex Fonseca and junior catcher Mike Murray led off the inning with singles. After a fielder's choice to move Fonseca to third, senior third baseman Mike Cox flied out to left field for the sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 2-1. With a runner on first base, Brown drove a 3-2 pitch over the fence in left field for a two-run home run to give the Owls a 3-2 advantage.
The score remained the same until the fourth inning when Florida Atlantic increased its lead to 4-2 with one run on one hit. Brown led off the inning with a walk, then after two outs, scored from second base on a single by second Derek Hutton to right field.
Florida Atlantic increased its lead to 6-2 in the eighth inning, as the Owls scored a pair of runs on two hits and two errors. Brown led off the inning with single to left field then moved to third base on senior outfielder Mike Pali's bunt single up the third base line and Wildcat pitcher Ryan Ashley's errant throw over the first baseman's head. With runners on second and third and one out, pinch runner Joe Yeager and Pali scored on Hutton's fielder's choice and the subsequent error by catcher Ryan Baldwin.
Maloney and Doty led five Wildcats with one hit, as each added a RBI to their one-hit performances. Maloney extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a 1-for-4 effort with one run scored and one RBI. He has now reached base in an amazing 49 straight games dating back to a doubleheader with Oklahoma State on March 23, 2002.
Senior right-handed pitcher James Callahan (1-0) earned the win for Florida Atlantic in relief of starter Will Mann, as he did not allow a baserunner for five innings of the game, retiring all 15 batters he faced from the fourth to eighth innings with two strikeouts.
Junior left-handed pitcher Brett Bagley (1-2) picked up the loss for Kansas State, as he allowed four runs (all earned) on six hits in five innings pitched with three strikeouts and two walks. Senior left-handed pitcher Jonathan Gutierrez made his first appearance since leaving the Arkansas game on March 7 with tightness in his throwing arm, as he allowed just one hit in 1-2/3 innings pitched with one strikeout and one walk
Kansas State concludes action at the Papa John's Challenge on Wednesday, as the Wildcats play Rider on the campus of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale at 11 a.m. CST. The team begins Big 12 Conference play on Friday afternoon, as the Wildcats travel to nationally-ranked Nebraska to begin a three-game series at Hawks Field on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
