Purple Blanks Gray in Opening Game of Fall World Series
Oct 25, 2018 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – In Game 1 of K-State baseball's Fall World Series, starter Caleb Littlejim along with relievers Brogan Heinen, Luke Hauswirth and Will Brennan combined for a two-hit shutout while Dylan Phillips drove in three runs to lift Team Purple over Team Gray, 5-0, Thursday night at Tointon Family Stadium.
"Good starting pitching today," first-year head coach Pete Hughes after the rain-delayed intrasquad scrimmage. "Caleb Littlejim threw a ton of strikes and put his team in position to win. Runs were tough to come by tonight; the conditions were tough. Overall, this is a tough night to play – it was a good toughness drill for our team. With baseball, you're going to have to wait around and have delayed starts. I thought our guys handled that really well.
"Really good energy tonight. Purple team played well, got their big hits and Gray's going to have to get back on it tomorrow."
Littlejim struck out five in his 3 2/3 innings of work, allowing just one hit and one walk in the victory for Purple. In two innings, Hauswirth collected four strikeouts while yielding one hit and issuing one walk.
Purple picked up single runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings before a two-run single by Phillips in the seventh. Phillips, a freshman, ended the night 1-for-3 with two walks and three RBI.
Team Purple freshman Blake Burrows roped a two-out triple to deep right field in the second inning and later scored on an infield single by Brennan for the game's first run.
Sophomore Brett Owen led off the fourth inning with a single to right field and later scored on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Phillips for Purple's second run. Junior Chris Ceballos added a leadoff double and scored in the fifth inning.
Owen and Brennan each went 2-for-4 while Burrows drew three walks and scored twice for Purple.
Team Gray starting pitcher Griffin Hassall tossed three full innings, allowing one earned run on three hits with a strikeout.
The top two in the batting order – Cameron Thompson and Thomas Hughes – accounted for Gray's two hits.
In two innings of relief for Gray, sophomore Andrew Stratman struck out two and gave up two hits and one earned run. Hughes threw the seventh and final frame for Team Gray, striking out the side after allowing two earned runs on two hits and issuing two walks.
The second game of the Purple-Gray Fall World Series is set for Friday at 6 p.m., at Tointon Family Stadium. Saturday will mark the inaugural Halloween ALS Awareness Game, as players and coaches will be dressed in costume to help raise funds and awareness for ALS. First pitch of the ALS Awareness Game is set for 6 p.m., with free admission to all fans.
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2019 season and are available through the K-State Ticket Office by calling 1.800.221.CATS, visiting the ticket office inside Bramlage Coliseum or by going to k-statesports.com/tickets.
"Good starting pitching today," first-year head coach Pete Hughes after the rain-delayed intrasquad scrimmage. "Caleb Littlejim threw a ton of strikes and put his team in position to win. Runs were tough to come by tonight; the conditions were tough. Overall, this is a tough night to play – it was a good toughness drill for our team. With baseball, you're going to have to wait around and have delayed starts. I thought our guys handled that really well.
"Really good energy tonight. Purple team played well, got their big hits and Gray's going to have to get back on it tomorrow."
Littlejim struck out five in his 3 2/3 innings of work, allowing just one hit and one walk in the victory for Purple. In two innings, Hauswirth collected four strikeouts while yielding one hit and issuing one walk.
Purple picked up single runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings before a two-run single by Phillips in the seventh. Phillips, a freshman, ended the night 1-for-3 with two walks and three RBI.
Team Purple freshman Blake Burrows roped a two-out triple to deep right field in the second inning and later scored on an infield single by Brennan for the game's first run.
Sophomore Brett Owen led off the fourth inning with a single to right field and later scored on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Phillips for Purple's second run. Junior Chris Ceballos added a leadoff double and scored in the fifth inning.
Owen and Brennan each went 2-for-4 while Burrows drew three walks and scored twice for Purple.
Team Gray starting pitcher Griffin Hassall tossed three full innings, allowing one earned run on three hits with a strikeout.
The top two in the batting order – Cameron Thompson and Thomas Hughes – accounted for Gray's two hits.
In two innings of relief for Gray, sophomore Andrew Stratman struck out two and gave up two hits and one earned run. Hughes threw the seventh and final frame for Team Gray, striking out the side after allowing two earned runs on two hits and issuing two walks.
The second game of the Purple-Gray Fall World Series is set for Friday at 6 p.m., at Tointon Family Stadium. Saturday will mark the inaugural Halloween ALS Awareness Game, as players and coaches will be dressed in costume to help raise funds and awareness for ALS. First pitch of the ALS Awareness Game is set for 6 p.m., with free admission to all fans.
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2019 season and are available through the K-State Ticket Office by calling 1.800.221.CATS, visiting the ticket office inside Bramlage Coliseum or by going to k-statesports.com/tickets.
Players Mentioned
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
IF/OF
/ BaseballK-State Baseball | Highlights vs Michigan - Feb. 22, 2026
Monday, February 23
K-State Baseball | Batcat Bash Recap
Tuesday, February 10
K-State Baseball | First Look - New Bats
Thursday, February 05
K-State Baseball | Media Day Press Conference - February 4, 2026
Wednesday, February 04
