Kansas State University
Abilene Christian University
Apr 30, 2017 | Baseball
GAME RECAP
3
14
NR
ABILENE CHRISTIAN
WILDCATS
12-29 (2-19 Southland)
NR
K-STATE
WILDCATS
24-20 (4-11 Big 12)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
| KSU | 5 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | X | 14 | 16 | 2 |
- Time of Game: 2:17
- First Pitch: 1:05
- Temperature: 47 F
- Wind: NE 9
- Attendance: 1,525
- ? GAMECENTER
- ? HIGHLIGHTS
- ? BOX SCORE
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Eleven runs in the first two innings propelled Kansas State to a 14-3, run-rule shortened game to complete a three-game series sweep of Abilene Christian Sunday at Tointon Family Stadium
K-State (24-20) scored all five first-inning runs with two outs as designated hitter Steve Serratore roped a two-run double to open the scoring for the Wildcat offense. Two batters later, Hanz Harker hit the first of four Wildcat home runs on the day - a three-run shot to hand K-State a 5-0 lead after an inning of play.
The five runs were more than enough for Wildcat starter Kasey Ford, who held Abilene Christian (12-29) hitless into the fourth inning in his third start of the year. Ford (2-0) finished with six innings, four strikeouts and no walks while yielding two earned runs on five hits.
"I thought the important thing was in the first inning: Steve's (Serratore) two-out RBI double there was big," said head coach Brad Hill. "Otherwise, that's a zero in the first inning and that can change the whole game up. Then you follow it up with a few more good at-bats, but Steve's at-bat was really important there in the first to get on the board.
"Kasey (Ford) threw up the zeros," Hill added. "I thought he did a really nice of (being) more aggressive. He just seems to get better and better and more and more confident each time he goes out on the mound."
K-State brought 11 men to the plate in the second on its way to bringing home six more runs and opening an insurmountable lead. In the inning, Jake Scudder had an RBI single, Kyle Barfield added an RBI double and Josh Rolette hit a three-run home run, his fifth of the season.
Barfield and Josh Ethier hit back-to-back home runs on consecutive pitches in the sixth inning that extended the Cats' lead to 14-2. Barfield finished with a career-high three hits: two doubles, a homer and a pair of RBI in a 3-for-4 effort.
"We are playing with a little more confidence," Hill said. "Offensively, we have gotten a bit better and that's been a big boost for us."
ACU ended Ford's shutout attempt with a run in the fourth inning with Anthony Dominguez's RBI single before Mark Pearson drove home single runs in the fifth and seventh innings. Pearson singled home Cole Solomon in the fifth and later recorded an RBI groundout in the seventh off K-State reliever Luke Hauswirth.
Hauswirth tossed the final inning of the game, allowing the one run on two hits and finished with one strikeout.
All nine starters for K-State tallied a base hit, as the Wildcat offense scored double-digit runs and produced double-figure hits for the second straight game. Six Cats recorded multi-hit games, led by Barfield with three extra-base hits.
Harker drove in a career-high three runs while Rolette matched his career-best output with three RBI.
K-State pitchers did not surrender a single walk to an ACU batter while no K-State hitter struck out in the ballgame.
K-State continues its final homestand of the season Tuesday, with Wichita State visiting Tointon Family Stadium. The game with the Shockers begins at 6:30 p.m., and will be nationally broadcast on Cox Channel Kansas and K-StateHD.TV. Fans can also listen to the game on KMAN 1350 AM, 93.3 FM and streaming free at k-statesports.com.
"Should be a fun night on Tuesday night," said Hill of the Wildcats' game against their in-state rival. "Hopefully we get a great crowd out here and hopefully it warms up and we will have a good night."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• K-State scored 14 runs on 16 hits and committed two errors and left seven runners on base. Abilene Christian scored three runs on seven hits with two errors and stranded four baserunners.
• All nine starters recorded a base hit in the game while Will Brennan, Quintin Crandall, Jake Scudder, Steve Serratore, Hanz Harker and Kyle Barfield each had multi-hit games.
• Barfield recorded a career high in hits (3) with Harker had a career-best three RBI. Josh Rolette matched his career high with three runs batted in.
• Josh Ethier hit his second career home run in going back-to-back with Barfield in the sixth. It is the third time K-State hitters have hit back-to-back homers this season.
• Harker and Barfield hit their third homers of the season and Rolette added his fifth. Barfield had two home runs in the series with ACU
• Six Wildcats scored twice: Cameron Thompson, Serratore, Rolette, Harker, Barfield and Ethier.
• K-State pitchers did not walk a single batter while Wildcat hitters did not strike out in the game.
• K-State hit .524 (11-for-21) with runners on base, .438 (7-for-16) with runners in scoring position and .538 (7-for-13) with two outs.
• The Cats got their leadoff man on in five of six innings.
NOTES
• K-State is now 4-1 all-time vs. Abilene Christian and 3-0 at home in the team's first meeting since 1966.
• The Cats now have five games with four or more home runs.
• It is the sixth time that K-State has scored double-digit runs in consecutive games and have done so 12 times this season.
• It is K-State's second three-game sweep of the season.
• The team's combined 42 home runs are the most since producing 58 homers in 2009.
