Kansas State University
University of Iowa
Mar 18, 2017 | Baseball
GAME RECAP
0
3
NR
IOWA
HAWKEYES
9-7 (0-0 Big Ten)
RV
K-STATE
WILDCATS
13-5 (0-0 Big 12)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| KSU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 | 9 | 1 |
- Time of Game: 2:34
- First Pitch: 6:31
- Temperature: 71 F
- Wind: N 8
- Attendance: 1,668
- ? GAMECENTER
- ? HIGHLIGHTS
- ? BOX SCORE
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Back-to-back pinch-hit singles with two outs by Trent McMaster and Josh Rolette broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth inning to help lift the Kansas State baseball team to a 3-0 victory over Iowa Friday night at Tointon Family Stadium.
K-State (13-5) had four consecutive singles and a bases-loaded walk – all with two outs – as it scored all three runs in the inning. McMaster's RBI single that scored Quintin Crandall proved to be game-winning run and ended the Wildcats' two-game losing skid.
"That was big," head coach Brad Hill said of the back-to-back pinch hit singles. "We haven't had five good at-bats in a row for probably a week and a half and we got five in a row in (the sixth) inning and it was the difference.
"It was all about approach tonight, guys were locked in," added Hill. "We hammered some balls. We hit some balls well that found gloves early, but we didn't let the frustration of that get to us, especially the way it had been going. I thought we stayed with a good approach tonight and guys are working hard trying to get some things fixed. Good win."
Wildcat starter Justin Heskett shut down Iowa (9-7), as he did not allow an opposing baserunner to reach second base until the fifth inning. The Chowchilla, California, product tossed a season-high seven scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts in his second win of the season.
"Heskett was outstanding," said Hill. "He had the composure to make good pitches when he had to and we had some pretty good defense tonight."
Heskett was aided by the middle infield duo of Crandall and Jake Wodtke, who turned three double plays for the Wildcat defense.
Reliever Mitch Zubradt threw a scoreless eighth to hand the ball to closer Jordan Floyd, who struck out two on his way to his Big 12-leading sixth save of the year.
McMaster, Rolette and Cameron Thompson drove in all three Wildcat runs. Thompson and Kyle Barfield each had two-hit nights, as Barfield and Crandall ignited the sixth-inning rally with singles ahead of McMaster.
Barfield hit safely for the fifth straight game, the longest active streak on the team.
Senior Jake Scudder roped a double down the right-field line to lead off the second inning but was stranded at third in the Cats' earliest threat. Scudder's double was the only extra-base hit in the ballgame.
The Hawkeyes had just three at-bats with a runner in scoring position (0-for-3) and only had multiple runners on base in the fifth and ninth innings.
Game two of the series is set for Saturday, March 18, with first pitch slated for 5 p.m. The entire series between the Wildcats and Hawkeyes will be broadcast worldwide on K-StateHD.TV with Matt Walters (play-by-play) and Blair DeBord (analyst) calling the action. The game will be joined in progress following K-State women's basketball on KMAN 1350 AM and 93.3 FM and will be streamed in its entirety free at k-statesports.com.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• K-State scored three runs on nine hits and committed one error and left seven runners on base. Iowa scored no runs on eight hits and committed no errors while stranding eight baserunners.
• The game marked the fourth time this season K-State has shut out its opponent.
• Heskett's seven innings pitched are a career high.
• K-State hit .462 (6-for-13) with two outs and was 4-for-10 with runners on base while Iowa was just 1-for14 (.071) with runners on.
• Thompson picked up his team-leading 10th multi-hit game.
• In six appearances (7.1 IP), Zubradt has yet to allow a run and has surrendered just one base hit.
NOTES
• K-State now leads the all-time series with Iowa, 16-8.
• K-State is now 11-5 at home against the Hawkeyes, winning the last 11 games at home
• The Wildcats are now 12-1 when scoring at least three runs.
• Barfield's five-game hitting streak is the longest active streak on the team.
• K-State has now scored 24 runs in the sixth inning, more than any other.
• Brad Hill now has 429 career wins as the Wildcat skipper, just six shy of becoming the program's all-time winningest coach.
