Kansas State University Athletics
Tuesday, March 9
Manhattan, KS
6 p.m.
Kansas State University
7-4
15
vs
4
South Dakota State
5-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
South Dakota State
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
9
4
K-State
0
4
4
1
0
3
3
0
X
15
13
1
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
Photo by: Chandler Mixon
K-State Erupts for Six Homers to Blast Jackrabbits, 15-4
Mar 09, 2021 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The K-State offense homered six times, including two each from Daniel Carinci and Zach Kokoska, in a 15-4 win over South Dakota State Tuesday night at Tointon Family Stadium.
K-State (7-4) also got homers from Nick Goodwin and Dylan Phillips, as the Wildcats plated 15 unanswered runs after South Dakota State (5-6) scored four in the top of the second. The Cats tallied multiple runs in four different innings and recorded their highest single-game home run total since 2006 – one shy of matching the program's all-time record.
"Proud of our team, it was a great team win," said head coach Pete Hughes. "It was a victory we needed. Most proud I am of our team is that two days ago we were in the exact same situation. We were up five runs in the seventh inning, and we didn't extend the lead and put a team away. When you're up five in the seventh, you put people away and we didn't do that two days ago. We came to the exact same situation today with a five-run lead late, extended our lead and took the game in our hands.
"It was a good learning lesson in the course of one day. That's what you do when you have bad situations like this past weekend. Highlight the mistakes and make the adjustments and try not to make them happen again."
Kokoska now leads the Wildcats with five home runs on the season, while Goodwin is second with four. K-State has launched 16 home runs over its last seven games.
Carinci, who hit the first home runs of his K-State career, drove in a game-high and career-high five runs, going 2-for-5. Kokoska and Phillips both tallied three base hits, with Kokoska driving in four and Phillips three.
"That's what we needed," Hughes added. "I was waiting for a breakout game like that. The conditions were very similar on Sunday. I was frustrated that we could only score seven runs on Sunday, to be honest with you. Good to see our bats come around, get our big guys going. It was great to respond when you're down 4-0 and to answer. Goodwin hits a homer, Phillips gets a single and Daniel (Carinci) hits his first of two. Immediately we were back in the game. Momentum was back in our dugout. We held onto that momentum and kept it in our dugout the rest of the game. It was a really good night."
SDSU claimed an early four-run lead, scoring four runs (one earned) on four hits and a K-State error in the second inning. Jamie Berg delivered a two-run double to cap the inning.
K-State responded with four runs of its own in the home half, as Goodwin led off the second with a homer. After a Phillips single, Carinci lifted his first of two bombs. A Jordan Maxson RBI single scored Terrence Spurlin and the game was level, 4-4, after two innings.
Carinci homered in the next inning, a three-run shot, as part of a four-run third to hand the Cats an 8-4 advantage.
Kokoska's first homer came in the fourth while Phillips' three-run home run in the sixth pushed the score to 12-4. Kokoska's second home run plated three more in the seventh and capped the scoring.
The 15 runs were more than enough for starter Zak Herbers and the Wildcat bullpen. Herbers, who made his first start of the year, earned the win after allowing one earned run (four runs) on seven hits in four innings of work.
Jaxon Passino logged the next three frames, striking out a career-best seven while allowing just two hits. Brett Wozniak tossed a perfect eighth while Gavin Hinchliffe struck out the side in the ninth.
"Passino is a strike thrower," Hughes said. "I thought he did a great job of settling everyone down. Wozniak threw a lot of strikes, too. Zak Herbers had a good outing, as well. He pitched with some traffic on the bases. He had some bad luck with a few high chopper hits, but then he did settle down. Passino had seven strikeouts in three innings. It all starts with strike one.
"Hats off to Gavin Hinchliffe, a guy who's career here has been plagued with injuries. He's been through two surgeries and has been rehabbing his entire career here. To get on the mound and see that stuff again, it's an added bonus to our program. So happy for Gavin."
In total, K-State relievers struck out 12 batters over five scoreless innings and yielded two base hits.
Cameron Thompson and Cameron Uselton each doubled, as the Cats registered nine extra-base hits in the game.
Berg led the Jackrabbits with a 2-for-4 effort with a double and two RBI. Derek Hackman also had two hits, going 2-for-4.
SDSU starter Logan Smith lasted 1 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits. Riley McSherry suffered the loss after giving up five runs in 2 1/3 innings.
K-State wraps up its two-game midweek series with South Dakota State Wednesday at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on 12 Now on ESPN+ with free, live audio available at K-StateSports.com/watch.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
NOTES
K-State (7-4) also got homers from Nick Goodwin and Dylan Phillips, as the Wildcats plated 15 unanswered runs after South Dakota State (5-6) scored four in the top of the second. The Cats tallied multiple runs in four different innings and recorded their highest single-game home run total since 2006 – one shy of matching the program's all-time record.
"Proud of our team, it was a great team win," said head coach Pete Hughes. "It was a victory we needed. Most proud I am of our team is that two days ago we were in the exact same situation. We were up five runs in the seventh inning, and we didn't extend the lead and put a team away. When you're up five in the seventh, you put people away and we didn't do that two days ago. We came to the exact same situation today with a five-run lead late, extended our lead and took the game in our hands.
"It was a good learning lesson in the course of one day. That's what you do when you have bad situations like this past weekend. Highlight the mistakes and make the adjustments and try not to make them happen again."
Kokoska now leads the Wildcats with five home runs on the season, while Goodwin is second with four. K-State has launched 16 home runs over its last seven games.
Carinci, who hit the first home runs of his K-State career, drove in a game-high and career-high five runs, going 2-for-5. Kokoska and Phillips both tallied three base hits, with Kokoska driving in four and Phillips three.
"That's what we needed," Hughes added. "I was waiting for a breakout game like that. The conditions were very similar on Sunday. I was frustrated that we could only score seven runs on Sunday, to be honest with you. Good to see our bats come around, get our big guys going. It was great to respond when you're down 4-0 and to answer. Goodwin hits a homer, Phillips gets a single and Daniel (Carinci) hits his first of two. Immediately we were back in the game. Momentum was back in our dugout. We held onto that momentum and kept it in our dugout the rest of the game. It was a really good night."
SDSU claimed an early four-run lead, scoring four runs (one earned) on four hits and a K-State error in the second inning. Jamie Berg delivered a two-run double to cap the inning.
K-State responded with four runs of its own in the home half, as Goodwin led off the second with a homer. After a Phillips single, Carinci lifted his first of two bombs. A Jordan Maxson RBI single scored Terrence Spurlin and the game was level, 4-4, after two innings.
Carinci homered in the next inning, a three-run shot, as part of a four-run third to hand the Cats an 8-4 advantage.
Kokoska's first homer came in the fourth while Phillips' three-run home run in the sixth pushed the score to 12-4. Kokoska's second home run plated three more in the seventh and capped the scoring.
The 15 runs were more than enough for starter Zak Herbers and the Wildcat bullpen. Herbers, who made his first start of the year, earned the win after allowing one earned run (four runs) on seven hits in four innings of work.
Jaxon Passino logged the next three frames, striking out a career-best seven while allowing just two hits. Brett Wozniak tossed a perfect eighth while Gavin Hinchliffe struck out the side in the ninth.
"Passino is a strike thrower," Hughes said. "I thought he did a great job of settling everyone down. Wozniak threw a lot of strikes, too. Zak Herbers had a good outing, as well. He pitched with some traffic on the bases. He had some bad luck with a few high chopper hits, but then he did settle down. Passino had seven strikeouts in three innings. It all starts with strike one.
"Hats off to Gavin Hinchliffe, a guy who's career here has been plagued with injuries. He's been through two surgeries and has been rehabbing his entire career here. To get on the mound and see that stuff again, it's an added bonus to our program. So happy for Gavin."
In total, K-State relievers struck out 12 batters over five scoreless innings and yielded two base hits.
Cameron Thompson and Cameron Uselton each doubled, as the Cats registered nine extra-base hits in the game.
Berg led the Jackrabbits with a 2-for-4 effort with a double and two RBI. Derek Hackman also had two hits, going 2-for-4.
SDSU starter Logan Smith lasted 1 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits. Riley McSherry suffered the loss after giving up five runs in 2 1/3 innings.
K-State wraps up its two-game midweek series with South Dakota State Wednesday at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on 12 Now on ESPN+ with free, live audio available at K-StateSports.com/watch.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State scored a season-high 15 runs on 13 hits with one error and six left on base.
- South Dakota State scored four runs on nine hits with four errors and 10 left on base.
- The Cats had six homers and nine extra-base hits on the night.
- Goodwin hit his fourth homer of the season, a solo blast in the second.
- Carinci hit the first two homers of his K-State career, a two-run shot in the second and a three-run blast in the third.
- Kokoska hit his fourth and fifth homers of the season, a solo shot in the fourth and a three-run bomb in the seventh. His five homers lead the team.
- Phillips connected on his first homer of the season, a three-run home run in the sixth. It was the 16th homer of his K-State career.
- Carinci had a team-best five RBI while Kokoska had four RBI and Phillips added three.
- Thompson and Maxson also drove in runs for the Cats.
- Kokoska and Phillips each had three hits while Carinci added two hits.
- Herbers picked up the win and moved to 1-0 on the year.
- Herbers worked the first four innings, allowing four runs and seven hits with three strikeouts.
- Passino struck out a career-high seven in three scoreless innings of relief.
- K-State pitchers finished with 15 strikeouts in the win.
- The Wildcats bullpen combined for 12 strikeouts over five innings and holding SDSU scoreless on two this.
- K-State went 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
NOTES
- K-State leads the all-time series with South Dakota State, 11-1.
- The Cats are 10-1 at home against the Jackrabbits.
- K-State's six homers are the most in a game since it hit a program-record seven against South Dakota State on May 16, 2006.
- Thompson made his 195th consecutive start for the Wildcats, moving into seventh place in K-State history.
- Phillips is on a 22-game on-base streak dating back to last season while Thompson is on a 16-game on-base streak.
- Goodwin has hits in nine of 11 games this season.
- Kokoska and Carinci had the first multi-homer game for K-State since Phillips in 2020, also against South Dakota State.
Cats Win 😺#KStateBSB pic.twitter.com/VVKG5TbWSi
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 10, 2021
Back-to-Back HR's from Goodwin and Carinci start up the offense for the 'Cats #KStateBSB pic.twitter.com/jvwcWxAPrV
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 10, 2021
TIE BALLGAME!
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 10, 2021
Maxson sends a single to left and we're tied 4-4 after 2. #KStateBSB pic.twitter.com/U2g1bETK5M
Carinci's 2nd 💣 makes it 8 unanswered runs, and the 'Cats are up 8-4. #KStateBSB x @dcarinci_7 pic.twitter.com/1A35XyrJKy
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 10, 2021
Kokoska joins the HR party and the 'Cats are up 9-4 over the Jackrabbits after 5. #KStateBSB x @ZachKokoska pic.twitter.com/IiGGRrMvx3
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 10, 2021
.@DylanP_16 just destroyed a ⚾️#KStateBSB 12 - SDSU 4 | Top 7 pic.twitter.com/rFWsKuDoBS
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 10, 2021
TO THE MOON! 🚀
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) March 10, 2021
Kokoska connects on the Wildcats 6th HR of the night, it's now 15-4. #KStateBSB x @ZachKokoska pic.twitter.com/wpPo9e0mNM
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Herbers, Zak (1-0)
L: Riley McSherry (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Jamie Berg 1 ; Derek Hackman 1
3B: Ryan McDonald 1
RBI: Landon Badger 1 ; Jamie Berg 2 ; Wyatt Andersen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jess Bellows 1 ; Derek Hackman 1 ; Wyatt Andersen 1 ; Garrett Stout 1
HBP: Ryan McDonald 1
Batting:
2B: Thompson, Cameron 1 ; Kokoska, Zach 1 ; Uselton, Cameron 1
HR: Kokoska, Zach 2 ; Goodwin, Nick 1 ; Phillips, Dylan 1 ; Carinci, Daniel 2
RBI: Thompson, Cameron 1 ; Maxson, Jordan 1 ; Kokoska, Zach 4 ; Goodwin, Nick 1 ; Phillips, Dylan 3 ; Carinci, Daniel 5
Base Running:
RUNS: Thompson, Cameron 1 ; Kokoska, Zach 3 ; Goodwin, Nick 3 ; Phillips, Dylan 3 ; Carinci, Daniel 2 ; Spurlin, Terrence 2 ; Beckstein, Luke 1
HBP: Beckstein, Luke 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
3
H
3
RBI
4
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
3
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
5
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
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/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
C/OF
/ Baseball
INF/RHP
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/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
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OF
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LHP
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