Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, March 13
Houston, TX
10 a.m.
Kansas State University
10-4
3
vs
1
Northern Illinois
1-9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
R
H
E
K-State
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
9
0
Northern Illinois
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
5
2
K-State Sweeps Doubleheader with NIU, Rice Saturday
Mar 13, 2021 | Baseball
HOUSTON – K-State swept a Saturday doubleheader with Northern Illinois and Rice at Reckling Park, defeating the Huskies in 10 innings, 3-1, before an 8-3 victory over the host Owls to extend the Wildcats' winning streak to five games.
Dylan Phillips lifted a go-ahead, two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning in the day's opening game while K-State (11-4) got home runs from Kaden Fowler and Cameron Thompson in the nightcap to claim its third win of the weekend in Houston.
"The first game was set up just like yesterday, as far as the conditions, and we knew it was going to be a tight game with runs at a premium," said head coach Pete Hughes. "Our guys hung in there and believe they're going to win every game late. We got it to extra innings and got a key home run from Dylan Phillips."
Phillips recorded multiple hits in both games Saturday, going 3-for-4 with a double in addition to his game-winning homer. In Game 2, the Omaha product finished 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
Phillips pushed his on-base streak to 26 games, a career-best stretch, while driving in a run for the 10th straight contest. Over his last five games, he is 12-for-20 (.600) with two doubles, four home runs and 10 runs batted in.
Phillips' effort helped back a quality start from Carson Seymour against Northern Illinois (1-9). Seymour allowed just two hits without a run over his six innings, striking out four. Seymour retired 10 consecutive Husky batters after retiring the side in order in the second, third and fourth innings.
"Carson was awesome today," said Hughes. "He made some adjustments. You can talk mechanics all day long, but he slowed the game down a couple times and got back in the zone and took control of the game. To me, that was the biggest step forward for Carson and I'm proud of him."
Eric Torres logged the game's final 2 2/3 innings, retiring all eight he saw while striking out five. Torres earned his first win of the year.
Zach Kokoska launched a first-inning home run, as the Cats held a 1-0 lead into the seventh. NIU plated the tying run in the seventh on a wild pitch.
Phillips tallied another RBI in the first inning of Game 2, driving a double to right-center field to score Thompson who had earlier singled.
Rice (6-7) leveled the game at a run apiece in the fourth via a solo home run from Bradley Gneiting.
Fowler responded with a solo homer of his own, his first as a Wildcat, in the next half inning to retake the lead. Fowler hit leadoff and ended the day going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
The Wildcats extended their lead to 4-2 following a two-run double from Dom Hughes in the sixth. Hughes drove home Nick Goodwin and Phillips.
"I was impressed with the guys who hadn't played a whole lot – Kaden Fowler and Dom Hughes – to have their mind right and be able to get big hits when called upon," Hughes added. "Kaden Fowler ignited our offense today and everyone followed him. That's good team stuff when those role guys come in and they're ready to go and be productive."
Thompson, who entered Saturday's second game amid a 1-for-17 slump, laced a two-run home run in the seventh to inflate the Wildcat lead to 6-1. It was the Houston native's second hit of the game.
"That was big to get Cam Thompson going, he's been at the core of this program for four years. To get him feeling good again is great," Hughes said of his captain.
The six runs of support were more than enough for starter Jordan Wicks, who picked up the victory with one run allowed in 6 1/3 innings. The lefty punched out four and scattered five base hits.
"I thought he got squeezed a couple times, which extended some innings for him, but he did a good job at keeping his composure," Hughes said of Wicks. "He always gives you a chance to win a game – always. Even when he doesn't have his A game. We'll take that game we saw today any day."
Wicks improved to 3-0 while carding his third quality outing in four starts. The sophomore's season strikeout total is up to 32 over his 25 1/3 innings.
The Cats tacked on insurance runs in the top of the ninth via a Goodwin RBI single and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Cameron Uselton.
In total, K-State tallied four home runs over its two games Saturday to up its season total to 23. All 23 have come in the last 11 contests as the Cats have homered in nine of their last 11 ballgames.
Kokoska leads the team with six bombs while Goodwin and Phillips each have four. As a team, K-State leads the Big 12 in homers.
In three games at Reckling Park, Phillips is 7-for-13 with two doubles, a home run and five RBI.
K-State concludes the weekend with a Sunday tilt against Rice at 12 p.m. The game will stream on C-USA.TV at ConferenceUSA.com/watch. Fans can liston on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) with live, free audio at K-StateSports.com/watch.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Dylan Phillips lifted a go-ahead, two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning in the day's opening game while K-State (11-4) got home runs from Kaden Fowler and Cameron Thompson in the nightcap to claim its third win of the weekend in Houston.
"The first game was set up just like yesterday, as far as the conditions, and we knew it was going to be a tight game with runs at a premium," said head coach Pete Hughes. "Our guys hung in there and believe they're going to win every game late. We got it to extra innings and got a key home run from Dylan Phillips."
Phillips recorded multiple hits in both games Saturday, going 3-for-4 with a double in addition to his game-winning homer. In Game 2, the Omaha product finished 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
Phillips pushed his on-base streak to 26 games, a career-best stretch, while driving in a run for the 10th straight contest. Over his last five games, he is 12-for-20 (.600) with two doubles, four home runs and 10 runs batted in.
Phillips' effort helped back a quality start from Carson Seymour against Northern Illinois (1-9). Seymour allowed just two hits without a run over his six innings, striking out four. Seymour retired 10 consecutive Husky batters after retiring the side in order in the second, third and fourth innings.
"Carson was awesome today," said Hughes. "He made some adjustments. You can talk mechanics all day long, but he slowed the game down a couple times and got back in the zone and took control of the game. To me, that was the biggest step forward for Carson and I'm proud of him."
Eric Torres logged the game's final 2 2/3 innings, retiring all eight he saw while striking out five. Torres earned his first win of the year.
Zach Kokoska launched a first-inning home run, as the Cats held a 1-0 lead into the seventh. NIU plated the tying run in the seventh on a wild pitch.
Phillips tallied another RBI in the first inning of Game 2, driving a double to right-center field to score Thompson who had earlier singled.
Rice (6-7) leveled the game at a run apiece in the fourth via a solo home run from Bradley Gneiting.
Fowler responded with a solo homer of his own, his first as a Wildcat, in the next half inning to retake the lead. Fowler hit leadoff and ended the day going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
The Wildcats extended their lead to 4-2 following a two-run double from Dom Hughes in the sixth. Hughes drove home Nick Goodwin and Phillips.
"I was impressed with the guys who hadn't played a whole lot – Kaden Fowler and Dom Hughes – to have their mind right and be able to get big hits when called upon," Hughes added. "Kaden Fowler ignited our offense today and everyone followed him. That's good team stuff when those role guys come in and they're ready to go and be productive."
Thompson, who entered Saturday's second game amid a 1-for-17 slump, laced a two-run home run in the seventh to inflate the Wildcat lead to 6-1. It was the Houston native's second hit of the game.
"That was big to get Cam Thompson going, he's been at the core of this program for four years. To get him feeling good again is great," Hughes said of his captain.
The six runs of support were more than enough for starter Jordan Wicks, who picked up the victory with one run allowed in 6 1/3 innings. The lefty punched out four and scattered five base hits.
"I thought he got squeezed a couple times, which extended some innings for him, but he did a good job at keeping his composure," Hughes said of Wicks. "He always gives you a chance to win a game – always. Even when he doesn't have his A game. We'll take that game we saw today any day."
Wicks improved to 3-0 while carding his third quality outing in four starts. The sophomore's season strikeout total is up to 32 over his 25 1/3 innings.
The Cats tacked on insurance runs in the top of the ninth via a Goodwin RBI single and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Cameron Uselton.
In total, K-State tallied four home runs over its two games Saturday to up its season total to 23. All 23 have come in the last 11 contests as the Cats have homered in nine of their last 11 ballgames.
Kokoska leads the team with six bombs while Goodwin and Phillips each have four. As a team, K-State leads the Big 12 in homers.
In three games at Reckling Park, Phillips is 7-for-13 with two doubles, a home run and five RBI.
K-State concludes the weekend with a Sunday tilt against Rice at 12 p.m. The game will stream on C-USA.TV at ConferenceUSA.com/watch. Fans can liston on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) with live, free audio at K-StateSports.com/watch.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State scored three runs on nine hits with no errors and nine left on base vs. NIU.
- Northern Illinois scored one run on five hits with two errors and six left on base.
- The Wildcats scored eight runs on 10 hits with two errors and stranded 10 against Rice.
- Rice scored three runs on eight hits without an error while leaving 10 on base.
- The Cats hit four home runs Saturday and have homered in nine of their last 11 games.
- Kokoska hit his team-best sixth homer of the year.
- Phillips has four homers in his last four games.
- Fowler hit his first home run as a Wildcat against Rice.
- The top four hitters in the order registered multiple hits against the Owls.
- Against NIU, Seymour, Torres and Brett Wozniak combined for 11 strikeouts.
- Wicks logged his third quality start in four outings this year.
- K-State holds a 4-0 series advantage against Northern Illinois.
- The Cats are now 2-3 all-time against Rice and pick up their first win over the Owls since the 2009 NCAA Houston Regional.
- K-State equaled its longest winning streak of the season with its fifth straight win.
- Thompson made his 199th consecutive start for the Wildcats, good for sixth place in K-State history.
- Phillips is on a career-high 26-game on-base streak dating back to last season.
- Phillips has a team-high 20 RBI on the season with an RBI in 10 straight games.
- Phillips has eight multi-hit games this year.
- K-State has 23 homers as a team this season and leads the Big 12.
Cats Win 😼#KStateBSB pic.twitter.com/25RyGWLPyP
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 13, 2021
Cats Win 😺#KStateBSB pic.twitter.com/vk4jcDUzEN
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 13, 2021
Dylan Phillips keeps the hit 🚂 rolling as he plates Thompson to put the 'Cats on the board #KStateBSB 1 - Rice 0 | Mid 1 pic.twitter.com/RJYWlWxR2K
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 13, 2021
Fires home... changeup, strikeout. #KStateBSB x @wicks_jordan pic.twitter.com/BCppb25qvk
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 13, 2021
Kaden Fowler sends it off the scoreboard in right field for his 1st career HR, and the 'Cats 22nd of the season #KStateBSB 2 - Rice 1 | Bot 5 pic.twitter.com/GlPFVRY85X
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 13, 2021
.@Dom_Hughes19 rips it down the line for a 2-run double#KStateBSB 4 - Rice 1 | Top 6 pic.twitter.com/IqD78GutWa
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 13, 2021
Jordan Wicks ♨️#KStateBSB 4 - Rice 1 | End 6 pic.twitter.com/ySDPGfWhkI
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 13, 2021
Cam Thompson (@T10Cambo
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 13, 2021
) sends a laser over the wall in left for another Wildcat HR.#KStateBSB 6 - Rice 1 | Mid 7 pic.twitter.com/oUfENJqAyc
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Torres, Eric (1-0)
L: MICHAELS, Tristan (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Phillips, Dylan 1
HR: Kokoska, Zach 1 ; Phillips, Dylan 1
RBI: Kokoska, Zach 1 ; Phillips, Dylan 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Kokoska, Zach 2 ; Phillips, Dylan 1
SB: Goodwin, Nick 1
CS: Phillips, Dylan 1
HBP: Caplinger, Dylan 1
Batting:
3B: SMITH, Kam 1
SH: BARNES, Matt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SMITH, Kam 1
SB: MCKERMITT, Paddy 1
CS: SMITH, Kam 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
2
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF/C
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/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballOF/LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
LHP
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