K-State Rallies from Seven for Win
Mar 25, 2009 | Baseball
With the win, K-State (20-5) became the second fastest team to get to 20 wins in school history. It also marked the second come-from-behind victory when trailing after seven innings this season, both coming against Northwestern, which fell to 4-16 heading into its first weekend of Big Ten play.
Senior shortstop Drew Biery tallied five RBI in a 1-for-5 night at the plate, with his two-run single in the eighth putting the dagger into Northwestern. Redshirt freshman Matt Giller, who pinch-hit in the fourth inning, was 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI, while Dane Yelovich finished the evening 3-for-4.
Northwestern scored seven runs on nine hits including two doubles and three home runs in the first three innings. NU put up four runs in the third inning when a solo-home run preceded a single and a double, which brought in another run. Following a sacrifice bunt, Paul Snieder hit a two-run homer over the right-field wall to put NU ahead 7-0.
The Cats began to rally in the fourth when a hit-by-pitch, a single and a fielder’s choice put runners on first and third with one out. Biery was next and hit what looked to be a sacrifice fly to plate a run, but the Northwestern right-fielder dropped the ball allowing Carter Jurica to score without recording an out.
After a strikeout and a walk to load the bases, designated hitter Mike Kindel was lifted for Giller, who came through with a two-run, two-out single into center field to cut the Northwestern lead to four. The Cats weren’t done as Yelovich singled through the left side of the infield to bring home another run and make the score 7-4.
In the meantime, K-State's relievers slowed down the Northwestern attack as Matt Applegate retired the side in the fourth and worked around a leadoff single in the fifth.
Northwestern extended its lead to two in the sixth inning when it received a leadoff single by Trevor Stevens, who stole second base and moved to third on an error, before scoring on a RBI groundout.
Down 8-7,
In the eighth, Rob Vaughn was hit by the second pitch of the inning and moved to third on a Yelovich single. After an intentional walk to load the bases, Jurica stroked an infield single to put K-State ahead for the first time at 9-8. Following a strikeout, King worked a walk on a full count to score another run before Biery’s single broke open the game.
Northwestern was led at the plate by Chris Lashmet, who went 2-for-4, while Snieder paced NU with two RBI.
The Wildcats will hit the road in Big 12 action for the first time this season as they travel to
