Serratore’s Grand Slam Powers Cats to 8-2 Win Saturday
Feb 25, 2017 | Baseball
GAME RECAP
8
2
NR
K-STATE
WILDCATS
5-2 (0-0 Big 12)
NR
LIBERTY
FLAMES
4-2 (0-0 Big South)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KST | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 1 |
| LIB | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 4 |
- Time of Game: 2:53
- First Pitch: 2:00 ET
- Temperature: 75 F
- Wind: WSW 14
- Attendance: 176
- ? GAMECENTER
- ? BOX SCORE
LEXINGTON, S.C. – Senior Steve Serratore hit a grand slam as part of a six-run sixth inning to propel the Kansas State baseball team to an 8-2 victory over Liberty Saturday afternoon at Lexington County Stadium.
K-State (5-2) trailed 2-1 headed into the sixth inning when freshman outfielder Will Brennan knocked his second RBI single of the game to level the score.
Later in the inning, a two-out error by Liberty (4-2) shortstop Cam Locklear allowed Brennan to score and loaded the bases for Serratore, who hit his second home run of the season and handed the Wildcats a 7-2 advantage.
It was the first grand slam by a K-State hitter since Jon Davis’ against Texas Tech in 2013.
“Great job by our guys taking advantage of the situation,” said head coach Brad Hill. “That was something we were missing yesterday but really happy to see the guys bounce back the way they did. We were a little more patient at the plate today and, obviously, (Steve) Serratore with the big swing to break it open.”
The Wildcats took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning with Brennan’s first of two RBI singles that scored senior third baseman Quintin Crandall – who is the only Wildcat to hit safely in all seven K-State games this season.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Flames grabbed the lead after a two-out two-RBI double by D.J. Artis, a lead LU would maintain until K-State was able to break through in the sixth.
From there, K-State starting pitcher Justin Heskett and the Wildcat bullpen held the Flames’ offense scoreless. Heskett collected his first win as a Wildcat, throwing five innings and striking out a pair.
Senior reliever Nick Jones made his fifth appearance this season with runners on base and pitched a perfect inning. This season Jones has inherited 10 baserunners and has yet to allow any to score.
Freshman righty Tyler Eckberg earned his first career save after tossing three shutout innings and striking out five Flame batters and allowing two hits.
Junior-transfer outfielder Hanz Harker hit a solo homer in the seventh inning for his first home run as a Wildcat.
Five Wildcat hitters recorded multiple hits, including leadoff hitter Cameron Thompson who went 2-for-5 with a runs scored. Thompson leads the team with four multi-hit games this season.
K-State will face Liberty again on Sunday at Lexington County Stadium to wrap up the weekend in South Carolina. First pitch is slated for 10 a.m. CT. Fans can listen to Mitch Fortner (play-by-play) and Christopher Brown (analyst) call Sunday’s action on KMAN 1350 AM, 93.3 FM and streaming free online at k-statesports.com.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• K-State scored eight runs on 12 hits and committed one errors and left nine runners on base. Liberty scored two runs on nine hits and committed four errors while stranding 11 baserunners.
• Serratore now leads the team with 10 RBI – five more than Crandall who is second.
• Reliever Nick Jones has inherited 10 runners in his five appearances this season and has yet to allow one to score.
• Five K-State hitters had multiple hits.
• Heskett earned his first career win and Eckberg picked up his first career save in the game.
• The Cats got their leadoff man on in five of the nine innings.
• K-State was 4-for-17 (235) with runners in scoring position after having five at-bats Friday with runners in scoring position.
• Both teams were 5-for-14 (.357) with two outs.
• K-State had six two-out RBI.
NOTES
• K-State leads the all-time series with Liberty, 2-0.
• K-State has scored first in the last five games (4-1)
• Serratore’s grand slam was the first grand slam by a K-State hitter since 2013 (Jon Davis vs. TTU).
• Serratore has three multi-RBI games this season while no other K-State hitter has more than one.
• Hanz Harker hit his first home run as a Wildcat with a solo shot in the seventh inning.
• The six-run sixth are the most runs K-State has scored in a single inning this season.
• Cameron Thompson leads the team with four multi-hit games this year.
• Quintin Crandall extended his on-base streak to 14 games, dating back to last season and has hit safely in each game of 2017.
