Wildcats Play Long Ball in 15-6 Win Over Morehead State
May 11, 2004 | Baseball
Manhattan - Josh Heinrich and Brian Patty each tallied four hits and four RBI, accounted for 13 of the Wildcats’ 15 runs and narrowly missed hitting for the cycle as Kansas State got back on the winning track Tuesday with a 15-6 win over Morehead State at Tointon Stadium. The Wildcats banged out eight extra-base hits, including three homers, and stole a season-best nine bases Tuesday night to improve to 24-25 on the season.
Both Heinrich and Patty needed a double and triple, respectively, for the cycle heading into their final at-bat of the evening. In the seventh, Heinrich ripped a single to left and advanced to second on the throw home by the left fielder, ending the night with two singles, a triple and his first homer as a Wildcat. Patty, needing a triple to complete the feat, ripped a fastball off the wall in left in the eighth, but was thrown out at third on a close play, thus finishing with a single, two doubles and his first round-tripper of the season.
Kansas State, after giving up a single run in the first on an error, erupted for seven runs in the bottom half on four hits to quickly take control of the game at 7-1. A run-scoring double by Patty and a two-run triple by Heinrich highlighed the frame.
Starter Brett Bagley picked up the win by throwing 5.0 innings and giving up two earned runs on six hits while striking out five. The senior moved to 5-7 on the season with the win.
Morehead State (12-34) did score single runs in each of the first four innings, but K-State answered with two more in both the second and fourth innings to go up 11-4. Heinrich and Patty again provided RBI-singles in the two-run second and solo blasts from the two seniors put the Wildcats up 11-4 in the fourth.
Nick Ponomarenko blasted his first homer as a Wildcat in the two-run seventh, a towering shot to left that sailed over the trees and into the parking lot at adjacent Bramlage Coliseum.
Patty, Heinrich and Ponomarenko led the offense, combining for 11 hits, 11 RBI and eight runs on the evening. Steve Murphy also had a multi-hit game with a 2-for-3 effort.
Chris Huseman and Jared Brite pitched the final 4.0 innings to complete the win, with Brite striking out the side in order in the ninth. Both teams will square off again Wednesday night at Tointon Stadium. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
