Saunders' 2-Run Home Run Ends K-State Skid
Apr 18, 2003 | Baseball
April 18, 2003
Manhattan, Kan. - Junior third baseman Zack Saunders connected on his second home run of the game with a two-run walk-off blast in the bottom of the ninth inning, as Kansas State saw its record-breaking 16-game losing streak end with a 10-8 victory over Texas Tech on Friday evening before 352 fans at Tointon Family Stadium.
With the win, Kansas State won for the first time in nearly a month to improve to 11-24 on the season and 1-12 in Big 12 Conference action. Texas Tech dropped to 23-17 overall in taking the loss and 5-10 in league play. The victory by the Wildcats snapped the longest losing streak in both school and Big 12 Conference history. It also ranked as the second-longest losing streak in Division I, tying Canisius and Prairie View A&M.
Things didn't look good early for Kansas State, as Texas Tech junior third baseman Christian Colonel connected on a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the first inning.
Texas Tech remained ahead 2-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning when Kansas State took its first lead, 4-2, by scoring four runs on four hits and an error. Senior outfielder Pat Maloney got things started with a single up the middle before senior first baseman Tim Doty gave the Wildcats' runners on first and second with no out after the first baseman failed to tag him on a sacrifice. After a pop-up, senior shortstop Brett Williams continued his hot play with a RBI single to center field. With runners of first and third, Saunders drilled a 3-2 pitch over the fence in right field to cap the inning with a three-run home run.
Texas Tech jumped back on top with a three-run fifth inning on four hits and an error, as junior designated hitter Travis McElroy and Colonel each had RBI single. However, Kansas State fought back to regain the lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning then adding two more in the sixth. Senior catcher Ryan Baldwin and Williams drove in both runs in the fifth with RBI singles, while Doty claimed a strange two-RBI single in sixth. Doty corked a single to deep center field with the bases loaded, but was called out at second base as passed Maloney.
Down 8-5, Texas Tech slowly chipped away at the lead with single run in the seventh and two more in the eighth. Leadoff hitter Corey Fuller had a solo home run for the Red Raiders' only run in the seventh, while Colonel led off the eighth with a solo blast followed by a RBI single by junior shortstop T.J. Bruce to tie the game at 8-all.
After scoreless top of the ninth for Texas Tech, Baldwin led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to right field. After senior Brandon Taylor was inserted as a pinch runner, Saunders watched the count drop to 1-2 before drilling his second home run of the game over the fence in right field. It was the Wildcats' first walk-off home run since Kasey Weishaar did it against Kansas on May 6, 2000.
Saunders and Williams each garnered three hits to pace six Wildcats with multiple-hit games. Saunders, who has gone 5-for-8 with eight RBIs and three home runs in the last two games, went 3-for-5 with a career-best five RBIs and two runs scored. Williams, who extended his hitting streak to nine games, added a 3-for-5 effort with two RBIs and a run scored. Doty posted a 2-for-4 evening with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Chabot, Baldwin and Blunt each collected two hits.
Colonel led the Texas Tech attack with his 3-for-5 performance with a team-high four RBIs and two runs scored.
Redshirt sophomore Eric Rollins (3-2) picked up his third win in relief, as he allowed one earned run on two hits in two innings pitched with one strikeout and one walk. Starter Kevin Melcher (0-4) was solid despite the no-decision, as he allowed six earned runs on eight hits in a season-best 6-1/3 innings pitched with three strikeouts and one walk.
Junior right-handed pitcher Jeff Karstens (7-3) collected the loss in relief of starter Steve Gooch, as he allowed two earned runs on two hits in 1-1/3 innings pitched with one strikeout and one walk. Gooch, who threw a complete game shutout in a 14-0 victory over the Wildcats last season, allowed six runs, only four earned, on 10 hits in five innings pitched with four strikeouts.
Kansas State continues its three-game series with Texas Tech on Saturday with first pitch set for 2 p.m. at Tointon Stadium.
