Wildcats Blank Golden Lions, 12-0

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Senior Cameron Thompson produced four hits for the second straight day and Nick Goodwin drove in four, as K-State shut out Arkansas-Pine Bluff 12-0 in seven innings Wednesday at Tointon Family Stadium.

Thompson equaled his season-high hit total while Goodwin's four RBI was a career best in helping K-State (17-11) sweep the two-game midweek series. Five Wildcat pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout, led by Zak Herbers who logged three innings and a career-high six strikeouts in the win.

"Good two days," said head coach Pete Hughes. "I thought we played clean baseball. Kept the bats going and more importantly got a lot of guys a lot of work that we needed to get on the mound again and get some guys out in the field to keep building depth in our program. It was important that we did that.

"I thought we were really good on the mound today with just two walks. I always look at command and presence in guys that haven't pitched in a while. So, it was a productive two days for our program. Nothing like winning, that's for sure."

In addition to his second consecutive four-hit day, Thompson homered for the third straight game. He finished 4-for-4 with a double, two RBI and four runs scored. Thompson has hit safely in each of the last four games, going 10-for-16 with two doubles, three homers and eight RBI in that stretch.

"He just had some hard luck in the beginning (of the season)," Hughes said of Thompson's recent success. "Great for him to always have the team first and stay in the right frame of mind to allow him to get out of it. I think since that home run this weekend, that big home run on Saturday, that's all you need is that one hit sometimes and he's kept it going. It'll be great to have him in a good frame of mind feeling good about himself heading into this weekend series."

K-State plated three runs in each of the first three innings, jumping out to a 9-0 lead over UAPB (2-19) after three. K-State scored three more in the fifth to finish off a run-rule shortened contest.

Eight Wildcats came to the plate in the first, with Thompson's eighth homer of the year standing as the game's first run. Terrence Spurlin added a two-run single in the first frame.

Thompson produced an RBI double in the third to go with RBI singles from Goodwin and Dylan Phillips. Phillips ended the day 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Goodwin added a two-run triple in the fifth, going 2-for-4. Zach Kokoska also doubled, as the Cats tallied four extra-base hits in the win.

The Wildcat offense has registered double-digit runs in three straight games and double-digit hits in four straight outings.

Phillips started the game on the mound and tossed on scoreless inning before giving way to Herbers. Herbers' scattered just two hits over his three innings with one walk in earning his second win of the season.

Elijah Dale, Brett Wozniak and Gavin Hinchliffe each logged one inning to preserve the Wildcats' second shutout of the campaign. The five K-State pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts and two walks.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff went hitless with runners in scoring position (0-for-6) while the Cats hit .385 (5-for-13).

Tony Horn, Jr. took the loss for the Golden Lions, allowing three earned runs on five hits in his one inning of work.

The Cats head to Austin, Texas, to take on third-ranked Texas, with a three-game series starting Friday at Disch-Falk Field. The entire series will be broadcast on the Longhorn Network and the ESPN app. Radio coverage will be available on the News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) and live, free audio at K-StateSports.com/watch.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

K-State scored 12 runs on 13 hits with no errors and six left on base.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff scored no runs on five hits with two errors and 10 left on base.
K-State scored three runs in four different innings.
Thompson hit his eighth homer of the year.
Goodwin, Phillips and Thompson had multi-hit games for K-State.
Thompson tied his season-high with four hits.
Goodwin drove in four runs, while Thompson and Spurlin drove in two apiece. Phillips and Kokoska also drove in runs.
Herbers improved to 2-1 and struck out a career-high six in three innings of relief.
K-State had four extra base hits.
The Cats have scored 10 or more runs in three straight games with double-digit hits in four straight contests.
Five pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts and just two walks in K-State's second shutout of the year.
Dale made his debut on the mound, allowing no runs and no hits with a strikeout in one inning of work.

NOTES

K-State has 44 homers on the year, which is tops in the Big 12.
Thompson made his 212^th consecutive start, good for fourth in K-State history in career starts.
Thompson has 17 homers in his Wildcat career.
Kokoska continued his career-best on-base streak, which now sits at 24.
K-State holds a 5-0 series lead over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
K-State has four straight wins to sit at 17-11 heading to the series at Texas.

Cats Win 😼#KStateBSB pic.twitter.com/pg7vvZhlIH
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) April 7, 2021

Yeah!#KStateBSB x EMAW pic.twitter.com/hDRx3oHFXw
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) April 7, 2021

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Team Stats

Cameron Thompson

Nick Goodwin

Dylan Phillips

Dom Hughes

Players Mentioned

Elijah Dale

Nick Goodwin

Zak Herbers

Gavin Hinchliffe

Zach Kokoska

Dylan Phillips

Terrence Spurlin

Cameron Thompson

Brett Wozniak

Players Mentioned

Elijah Dale

Nick Goodwin

Zak Herbers

Gavin Hinchliffe

Zach Kokoska

Dylan Phillips

Terrence Spurlin

Cameron Thompson

Brett Wozniak

Kansas State University Athletics