Purple Walks Off in Game 2 to Even Fall World Series
Oct 09, 2020 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Dylan Caplinger scored the winning run from second base in the sixth inning on an error after Brady Day laid down a sacrifice bunt to give Team Purple a 5-4 walk-off victory over Team Grey in the second game of the Fall World Series Friday at Tointon Family Stadium.
Luke Beckstein led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk. Caplinger, who entered as a pinch runner for Beckstein, reached second on a dropped pop up and then sprinted home from second base after Day's bunt was not handled cleanly. Purple's win evened the three-game intrasquad series at a game apiece.
"It taught some lessons – that if you take care of the baseball and if you do the little things – that can be the difference if you win or lose," head coach Pete Hughes said. "We won a game by getting a bunt down. On the other side, we also don't execute pop up communication and bunt defense and it goes the other way on you. So some good lessons learned. I am glad we are going to play a Game 3 where someone is going to win it all tomorrow. We need to start learning how to do that."
A pair of freshmen took the mound for the Wildcats, with right-hander Tyler Ruhl getting the ball for Team Purple while lefty Brett Wozniak got the call for Team Grey. Ruhl threw three-plus innings with four runs allowed on five hits and one strikeout. Wozniak logged three frames with three runs given up on six hits and a strikeout.
"What I got out of tonight was two freshmen starting pitchers getting great experience in a really cool atmosphere," Hughes said. "It got them the feel for the next level. There was some growth there tonight, so that was a positive."
Purple trailed Grey, 4-3, after a two-run fourth inning that was highlighted by Austin Garrett's RBI single. Purple trailed by two runs earlier in the game, courtesy of a two-run, first-inning homer from Kamron Willman, his second of the series.
Senior Cameron Thompson hit a game-tying solo home run for Team Purple in the bottom of the fifth inning. Thompson finished 1 for 2 with a walk.
"You get the clutch hit from Cam (Thompson), which we expect from him this year," added Hughes. "So that was good to see."
Zach Kokoska led Team Purple with two base hits, going 2 for 3 with a double. Mason Crews laced an RBI triple in the second inning, which cut Grey's lead in half, before scoring to level the score at two after two innings.
Garrett turned in Grey's only multi-hit game, going 2 for 3 with an RBI. Willman led all players with two runs batted in, giving him five for the series.
Jaxon Passino threw three innings in relief of Ruhl, striking out three while keeping Grey scoreless on just three hits.
Griffin Hassall added two relief frames for Team Grey, registering three strikeouts with one run allowed on two hits.
The three-game intrasquad series concludes Saturday at 12 p.m. at Tointon Family Stadium. Following the finale, players and staff will participate in "Shave for the Brave," where they will cut their hair in support of children's cancer research and raise funds to benefit Vs. Cancer, the signature fundraising campaign of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
As of Friday, players and coaches have combined to raise over $33,000 for the 2020 College Baseball Vs. Cancer campaign. The Wildcats' total is the highest amount raised nationally among college baseball programs. K-State has led the country in fundraising in each of the last two seasons, with a three-year total over $88,000.
"Shave for the Brave" is a staple event in Hughes' 19 Ways program, which is designed to have a positive impact on the Manhattan community on 19 different occasions during the year. For more on 19 Ways, visit the 19 Ways website here.
Admission is free to all fans, with the stadium's capacity being limited to 25 percent (or approximately 400 people). Fans are reminded that face coverings are required in addition to social-distancing guidelines while attending all K-State events.
With the ongoing construction on College Avenue near Tointon Family Stadium, fans are asked to park in the West Stadium lot near Gate 1 and use the pedestrian signal between Gates 1 and 3 to cross to the west side of College Avenue. Please follow the sidewalk south and cross back over at the signal near the ticket window at Tointon Family Stadium and enter through the main gates.
K-State Baseball Fall World Series (free admission to all)
Game 1 – Team Grey 4, Team Purple 0
Game 2 – Team Purple 5, Team Grey 4
Game 3 – Saturday, October 10 (12 p.m.)*
*"Shave for the Brave" following final FWS game
Luke Beckstein led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk. Caplinger, who entered as a pinch runner for Beckstein, reached second on a dropped pop up and then sprinted home from second base after Day's bunt was not handled cleanly. Purple's win evened the three-game intrasquad series at a game apiece.
"It taught some lessons – that if you take care of the baseball and if you do the little things – that can be the difference if you win or lose," head coach Pete Hughes said. "We won a game by getting a bunt down. On the other side, we also don't execute pop up communication and bunt defense and it goes the other way on you. So some good lessons learned. I am glad we are going to play a Game 3 where someone is going to win it all tomorrow. We need to start learning how to do that."
A pair of freshmen took the mound for the Wildcats, with right-hander Tyler Ruhl getting the ball for Team Purple while lefty Brett Wozniak got the call for Team Grey. Ruhl threw three-plus innings with four runs allowed on five hits and one strikeout. Wozniak logged three frames with three runs given up on six hits and a strikeout.
"What I got out of tonight was two freshmen starting pitchers getting great experience in a really cool atmosphere," Hughes said. "It got them the feel for the next level. There was some growth there tonight, so that was a positive."
Purple trailed Grey, 4-3, after a two-run fourth inning that was highlighted by Austin Garrett's RBI single. Purple trailed by two runs earlier in the game, courtesy of a two-run, first-inning homer from Kamron Willman, his second of the series.
Senior Cameron Thompson hit a game-tying solo home run for Team Purple in the bottom of the fifth inning. Thompson finished 1 for 2 with a walk.
"You get the clutch hit from Cam (Thompson), which we expect from him this year," added Hughes. "So that was good to see."
Zach Kokoska led Team Purple with two base hits, going 2 for 3 with a double. Mason Crews laced an RBI triple in the second inning, which cut Grey's lead in half, before scoring to level the score at two after two innings.
Garrett turned in Grey's only multi-hit game, going 2 for 3 with an RBI. Willman led all players with two runs batted in, giving him five for the series.
Jaxon Passino threw three innings in relief of Ruhl, striking out three while keeping Grey scoreless on just three hits.
Griffin Hassall added two relief frames for Team Grey, registering three strikeouts with one run allowed on two hits.
The three-game intrasquad series concludes Saturday at 12 p.m. at Tointon Family Stadium. Following the finale, players and staff will participate in "Shave for the Brave," where they will cut their hair in support of children's cancer research and raise funds to benefit Vs. Cancer, the signature fundraising campaign of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
As of Friday, players and coaches have combined to raise over $33,000 for the 2020 College Baseball Vs. Cancer campaign. The Wildcats' total is the highest amount raised nationally among college baseball programs. K-State has led the country in fundraising in each of the last two seasons, with a three-year total over $88,000.
"Shave for the Brave" is a staple event in Hughes' 19 Ways program, which is designed to have a positive impact on the Manhattan community on 19 different occasions during the year. For more on 19 Ways, visit the 19 Ways website here.
Admission is free to all fans, with the stadium's capacity being limited to 25 percent (or approximately 400 people). Fans are reminded that face coverings are required in addition to social-distancing guidelines while attending all K-State events.
With the ongoing construction on College Avenue near Tointon Family Stadium, fans are asked to park in the West Stadium lot near Gate 1 and use the pedestrian signal between Gates 1 and 3 to cross to the west side of College Avenue. Please follow the sidewalk south and cross back over at the signal near the ticket window at Tointon Family Stadium and enter through the main gates.
K-State Baseball Fall World Series (free admission to all)
Game 1 – Team Grey 4, Team Purple 0
Game 2 – Team Purple 5, Team Grey 4
Game 3 – Saturday, October 10 (12 p.m.)*
*"Shave for the Brave" following final FWS game
| TEAM PURPLE Daniel Carinci: 1-2 Zach Kokoska: 2-3, 2B Cameron Thompson: 1-3, HR, RBI, BB Jordan Maxson: 1-2, RBI, BB Dylan Caplinger: 1-3, 2 R Mason Crews: 1-3, 3B, RBI, R Luke Beckstein: 0-1, 2 BB, RBI Cole Johnson: 1-3 Brady Day: 0-2 Tyler Ruhl: 3+ IP, 5 H, 4 R, K, 2 BB Jaxon Passino: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 3 K |
TEAM GREY Dylan Phillips: 0-2, BB, R, SB Kamron Willman: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI Chris Ceballos: 1-2, BB Nick Goodwin: 0-3 Caleb Littlejim: 1-3, R Dom Hughes: 1-3, R Austin Garrett: 2-3, RBI Kaden Fowler: 1-2 Raphael Pelletier: 0-3 Elijah Dale: 1-2 Brett Wozniak: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, K, BB Griffin Hassall: 2.0 IP, 2 H, R, 3 K, 2 BB Andrew Stratman: 0.0 IP, R, BB |
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