Big Seventh Inning Gives KU Series Win
May 13, 2017 | Baseball
GAME RECAP
4
6
NR
K-STATE
WILDCATS
26-24 (5-15 Big 12)
NR
KANSAS
JAYHAWKS
29-22 (11-9 Big 12)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KSU | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 0 |
| KU | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | X | 6 | 12 | 1 |
- Time of Game: 2:58
- First Pitch: 2:06
- Temperature: 77 F
- Wind: 7 mph in RF
- Attendance: 1,785
- ? GAMECENTER
- ? BOX SCORE
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Kansas’ four-run seventh inning wiped away Kansas State’s three-run lead as KU took the second game of the Sunflower Showdown, 6-4, Saturday at Hoglund Ballpark.
KU shortstop Matt McLaughlin delivered the big hit for the Jayhawks, as he roped a three-run double off K-State reliever Jared Marolf to tie the game, 4-4, before later scoring the ultimate game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by Jaxx Groshans.
K-State (26-24, 5-15 Big 12) had held KU to one run through the game’s first six innings and lost its first game of the season when leading after six innings (20-1). KU (29-22, 11-9) claims the series and has now won 10 straight games overall.
“We were playing hard and competing,” said head coach Brad Hill. “We just were doing things that don’t win games. We don’t finish off innings, offensively. Instead of two runs it could be four or five runs on the board. So, offensively, we were not getting good swings to ahead and extend out a lead. Walked two guys late in the game with a three-run lead and next thing you know, you’re behind. Those are things that we’ve been doing and that’s why we can’t get over the hump and reverse that score.”
Marolf, who had retired 11 straight hitters dating back to his last appearance against Oklahoma, gave up a single before back-to-back walks in the seventh to load the bases with no out when McLaughlin came to the plate. Nick Jones came in relief of Marolf, inheriting McLaughlin at third with one out, and Groshans’ sacrifice fly to left brought home the go-ahead run for KU.
“Marolf’s been so good for us,” added Hill. “Back-to-back walks but we kept believing in him because he’s been so good for us. Just wasn’t his day.”
Kansas second baseman James Cosentino added an RBI single run in the eighth to complete the Jayhawks’ come-from-behind series-clinching win.
K-State struck first, as leadoff hitter Will Brennan and Jake Wodtke began the game with back-to-back walks. Both would score in the inning, as Jake Scudder brought home Brennan when he lifted a sacrifice fly to left and Quintin Crandall roped a double to left to score Wodtke and the Wildcats led 2-0 before starter Parker Rigler took the hill.
The first two Wildcat hitters reached base again in the second, via a leadoff walk and an error, and later had the bases loaded when Brennan singled to right. With one out, Wodtke grounded into an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play and the Cats were unable to add to their lead. In the game, K-State would strand 12 baserunners.
KU cut K-State’s lead in half in the home half of the second on a sacrifice fly by catcher Gragg Tanner with the bases loaded. The Jayhawks then had two in scoring position and one out but Rigler managed to escape without further damage by retiring the next two KU batters.
Rigler allowed one earned run over 5 1/3 innings, often pitching around baserunners as he spread across seven hits and two walks. The senior southpaw held KU to 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and 0-for-5 with two outs but did not factor into the decision.
“He competed his butt off today for us,” Hill said of Rigler. “It wasn’t sharp, but he kept competing. We asked him not to walk anyone and he walked one and we got him after that second one.”
Crandall laced his second RBI double of the game in the fifth inning to score Scudder, who earlier singled and stole second, to extend K-State’s lead to 3-1 at the halfway mark of the game. Crandall finished the day 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk. It was his second two-double game of the season and first since March 19 against Iowa.
Josh Ethier launched a two-out solo shot in the sixth that put the Cats up three runs. It was the senior’s third homer of the year after not hitting a home run last season.
K-State threatened in the eighth behind Ethier’s two-out double and Brennan’s infield single, putting runners on the corners but was unable to push across the tying run.
Marolf (4-1) was tagged for his first loss of the season after allowing a season-high four earned runs in one inning of work.
KU closer Stephen Villines saved his 14th game of the season and second in the series after a scoreless ninth inning.
Five Wildcats had a pair of hits in the game – Brennan, Thompson, Scudder Crandall and Ethier – while Crandall had a team-high two RBI.
K-State and Kansas complete the three-game set Sunday, with first pitch slated for 2 p.m. Game three of the Sunflower Showdown will stream live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app. Fans can also listen on KMAN 1350 AM, 93.3 FM and streaming free at k-statesports.com.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• K-State scored four runs on 10 hits and committed no errors and left 12 runners on base. Kansas scored six runs on 12 hits with one error and stranded nine baserunners.
• Five Wildcats had multi-hit games - Brennan, Thompson, Scudder Crandall and Ethier.
• Ethier hit his third home run of the season, a new career high after not hitting any last season.
• K-State hit .385 with two outs while KU hit .222.
• KU got its leadoff man on base in five of eight innings while K-State did so just three times in nine innings.
• K-State had three two-out RBI while KU had one.
• Each side went 5-for-20 (.250) with runners on base.
• Scudder had a team-high two runs batted in.
NOTES
• K-State is now 177-169-1 all-time against Kansas and 37-24 in Big 12 play.
• KU claims its first series vs. K-State since 2014.
• Scudder’s 57 RBI are the most by a Cat since Carter Jurica’s 59 in 2011.
• Two Wildcats have on-base streaks of 13 games or more – Brennan (16) and Crandall (13).
