Saturday, April 7
Manhattan, Kan.
2 p.m.
Kansas State University
15-15, 2-5
3
vs
6
Oklahoma State
16-11-1, 5-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Oklahoma State
0
0
3
0
3
0
0
0
0
6
13
2
Kansas State
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
3
9
0
Cowboys Take Series Opener Saturday, 6-3
Apr 07, 2018 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Oklahoma State did all its damage in the third and fifth innings, as it plated three in each frame on its way to taking the series opener with K-State, 6-3, Saturday afternoon at Tointon Family Stadium.
Oklahoma State (16-11-1, 5-2 Big 12) hit back-to-back home runs to begin the third inning to break a scoreless tie, while K-State (15-15, 2-5 Big 12) left a season-high 20 runners on base. The Wildcats, aided by 11 walks, stranded runners in each inning and left the bases loaded in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
K-State went 2-for-17 (.118) with runners in scoring position, scoring a single run in the fourth before bringing home two in the bottom of the ninth in its third straight loss.
Sophomore shortstop Cameron Thompson had a team-high three hits, going 3-for-5 with an RBI. Sophomore Will Brennan and freshman Brett Owen each registered a pair of hits and drove in a run.
Cats starting pitcher Justin Heskett equaled his season high with four strikeouts over five innings, allowing six earned runs on nine hits. The senior right-hander suffered his fourth loss of the season (2-4).
Brogan Heinen and Alex Belch combined to keep the Cowboys scoreless over the game's final four frames. Belch, a freshman from Rochester, Minnesota, struck out a career-high five batters in 2 1/3 innings pitched without yielding a hit.
OSU starter Joe Lienhard was credited with the victory, giving up one run (earned) in five innings of work. Lienhard issued seven bases on balls with four strikeouts.
After not allowing a hit through the first two innings, Heskett ran into trouble in the top of the third, giving up back-to-back home runs to Trevor Boone and Carson McCusker. The Cowboys ended up with three in the inning on three hits off Heskett.
Owen laced a two-out single to put the Cats on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth and cut into the Cowboys' lead, 3-1. K-State left the bases loaded in the fourth and would do the same in each of the next two innings.
In the next half inning, Oklahoma State added three more runs to push its lead to 6-1. The first three OSU hitters each recorded base hits, capped by an RBI double from Michael Neustifter. Christian Funk and Daniel DeSimone each contributed a sacrifice fly in the inning.
Wildcats catcher TK McWhertor reached on an error to start the home half of the ninth. He was followed by Owen's second base hit, a single through the left side, before Brennan doubled to bring home McWhertor. Owen would score when Thompson lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to round out the Cats' scoring.
Cowboys reliever Brady Basso tossed three innings in relief of Lienhard, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits. He walked three hitters and struck out one.
OSU catcher Colin Simpson went 3-for-4 with a run batted in and a run scored. He and Boone each tied for the team lead with three hits.
Oklahoma State stranded 10 batters and were 2-for-7 (.286) with runners in scoring position.
The series between K-State and Oklahoma State Cowboys, which was rescheduled due to weather, continues Sunday at Tointon Family Stadium at 2 p.m. Game 2 will stream on ESPN3 and the ESPN app. Fans can also be listen live on KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) and streaming live on kstatesports.com.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Oklahoma State (16-11-1, 5-2 Big 12) hit back-to-back home runs to begin the third inning to break a scoreless tie, while K-State (15-15, 2-5 Big 12) left a season-high 20 runners on base. The Wildcats, aided by 11 walks, stranded runners in each inning and left the bases loaded in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
K-State went 2-for-17 (.118) with runners in scoring position, scoring a single run in the fourth before bringing home two in the bottom of the ninth in its third straight loss.
Sophomore shortstop Cameron Thompson had a team-high three hits, going 3-for-5 with an RBI. Sophomore Will Brennan and freshman Brett Owen each registered a pair of hits and drove in a run.
Cats starting pitcher Justin Heskett equaled his season high with four strikeouts over five innings, allowing six earned runs on nine hits. The senior right-hander suffered his fourth loss of the season (2-4).
Brogan Heinen and Alex Belch combined to keep the Cowboys scoreless over the game's final four frames. Belch, a freshman from Rochester, Minnesota, struck out a career-high five batters in 2 1/3 innings pitched without yielding a hit.
OSU starter Joe Lienhard was credited with the victory, giving up one run (earned) in five innings of work. Lienhard issued seven bases on balls with four strikeouts.
After not allowing a hit through the first two innings, Heskett ran into trouble in the top of the third, giving up back-to-back home runs to Trevor Boone and Carson McCusker. The Cowboys ended up with three in the inning on three hits off Heskett.
Owen laced a two-out single to put the Cats on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth and cut into the Cowboys' lead, 3-1. K-State left the bases loaded in the fourth and would do the same in each of the next two innings.
In the next half inning, Oklahoma State added three more runs to push its lead to 6-1. The first three OSU hitters each recorded base hits, capped by an RBI double from Michael Neustifter. Christian Funk and Daniel DeSimone each contributed a sacrifice fly in the inning.
Wildcats catcher TK McWhertor reached on an error to start the home half of the ninth. He was followed by Owen's second base hit, a single through the left side, before Brennan doubled to bring home McWhertor. Owen would score when Thompson lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to round out the Cats' scoring.
Cowboys reliever Brady Basso tossed three innings in relief of Lienhard, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits. He walked three hitters and struck out one.
OSU catcher Colin Simpson went 3-for-4 with a run batted in and a run scored. He and Boone each tied for the team lead with three hits.
Oklahoma State stranded 10 batters and were 2-for-7 (.286) with runners in scoring position.
The series between K-State and Oklahoma State Cowboys, which was rescheduled due to weather, continues Sunday at Tointon Family Stadium at 2 p.m. Game 2 will stream on ESPN3 and the ESPN app. Fans can also be listen live on KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) and streaming live on kstatesports.com.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State scored three runs on nine hits without committing an error and left 20 runners on base. Oklahoma State scored six runs on 13 hits with two errors and stranded 10 baserunners.
- The Wildcats' 20 runners left on base is a season high and are six more than their previous season high (14). The 2017 season high was 15 stranded baserunners.
- The Cats were 2-for-17 (.118) with runners in scoring position and OSU was 2-for-7 (.286).
- Cowboy pitchers combined to issue 11 walks and struck out six. K-State struck out 10 against four walks.
- Thompson, Brennan and Owen each had multi-hit games, as Thompson had a team-high three hits.
- Heskett matched his season high with four strikeouts and Belch struck out a career-high five batters.
- Oklahoma State now leads the all-time series, 166-58, and have won the last three overall in the series.
- The Cowboys extend their winning streak in Manhattan against K-State to 10.
- Head coach Brad Hill is now 14-30 in his career vs. OSU.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lienhard, Joe (3-1)
L: Heskett, Justin (2-4)
S: Aleaziz, Reza (1)
Batting:
2B: Neustifter, Michael 1 ; Boone, Trevor 1
HR: Boone, Trevor 1 ; McCusker, Carson 1
RBI: Simpson, Colin 1 ; Neustifter, Michael 1 ; Funk, Christian 1 ; DeSimone, Daniel 1 ; Boone, Trevor 1 ; McCusker, Carson 1
SF: Funk, Christian 1 ; DeSimone, Daniel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rosa, Andrew 1 ; Simpson, Colin 1 ; Littell, Jon 1 ; Neustifter, Michael 1 ; Boone, Trevor 1 ; McCusker, Carson 1
SB: Simpson, Colin 1
Batting:
2B: Brennan, Will 1
RBI: Brennan, Will 1 ; Thompson, Cameron 1 ; Owen, Brett 1
SF: Thompson, Cameron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Harker, Hanz 1 ; McWhertor, TK 1 ; Owen, Brett 1
SB: Thompson, Cameron 1 ; Owen, Brett 1
HBP: Brennan, Will 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
0
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
ph/dh
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
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