Kansas State University Athletics
Tuesday, March 29
Manhattan, Kan.
6 p.m.
Kansas State University
12-11
8
vs
6
Northern Colorado
6-20
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Northern Colorado
0
0
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
6
13
5
K-State
1
1
4
1
0
0
1
0
X
8
12
0
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Phillips Moves up Career Leaderboard, Wildcats Outlast UNC
Mar 29, 2022 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Dylan Phillips moved into a second-place tie on K-State's all-time home run list, as he was one of three players to homer Tuesday night in helping the Wildcats outlast Northern Colorado at Tointon Family Stadium, 8-6, in a game that was twice delayed due to weather.
Phillips' two-run homer in the third inning not only doubled K-State's lead, but put him one home run away from tying the program's all-time mark of 37. His fifth home run of the season was the first of three hit by the Wildcats (12-11) in snapping their four-game skid.
Cole Johnson followed Phillips with a two-run bomb of his own in the third inning, helping the Cats score six runs over the first three frames before a 60-minute rain and lightning delay. The start of the contest was also delayed by 47 minutes due to weather concerns.
"I love jumping on a team early, especially at home," head coach Pete Hughes said. "I'm glad we did because they came out and played with more urgency than we did after the delay. Good for our guys coming out and getting our bats going early and doing what we're supposed to do at home midweek. You've got to sustain it though; you've got to play nine innings, but it was a good start."
In his first start of the season, German Fajardo struck out a career-high eight over three innings before the delay. Fajardo, a transfer from Arizona, picked up his first win of the season and scattered four hits while not allowing a run.
Northern Colorado (6-20) outscored the Cats 5-2 over the next four innings out of the delay. UNC plated two runs in the both the fourth and seventh innings to trim the lead to two runs at 7-5. Aiden Leahy lifted a two-run homer in the fourth before Josh Glenn's and Lincoln Turner's RBIs in the seventh inched the Bears within two at the seventh-inning stretch.
"We're definitely not at the stage of the season to be playing sloppy baseball," added Hughes. "When you get somebody down 6-0 at home, whether there's a rain delay or not, if you're hungry and have urgency, then you put people away. You don't let them crawl back in and we let them crawl back in, so it was disappointing. The upside is we got some guys out there that we're trying to see if they can be pieces to the puzzle out of the bullpen. We got those guys some work and won a ballgame."
Josh Nicoloff pushed the lead back to three runs with a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh. Nicoloff was one of five Wildcats to tally two hits, as he extended his on-base streak to 18 games.
K-State took advantage of two first-inning errors by the Bears, which allowed Nick Goodwin to lift a sacrifice fly and score Dom Hughes. Goodwin added a second sac fly in the fourth and finished the night with two runs batted in.
Raphael Pelletier's RBI double in the second inning doubled the Wildcats' lead before K-State's four-run third.
The Cats looked to put the game away in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with one out and leading by two. UNC reliever Jayden Metz ended the threat with a strikeout and a groundout to give his club a chance in the ninth.
Northern Colorado brought the tying run to the plate with one out, but reliever Ty Ruhl picked up back-to-back strikeouts to end the game and earn his first career save. Ruhl tossed the final 1 2/3 innings and finished with four strikeouts.
In total, five K-State pitchers combined to 17 strikeouts – equaling its season high. Landry Jurecka added three strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings.
Dominic Johnson, hitting leadoff, went 2-for-5 and has turned in multiple hits in 12 of his last 14 games.
Hughes, Cole Johnson, Nicoloff and Phillips all had two-hit days. Nicoloff and Phillips are tied for the team lead with five home runs apiece on the year.
UNC second baseman Shaydon Kubo led his team by going 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Lucas Allena and Glenn both collected two hits for the Bears.
Starter Kevin Sharp suffered the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) over three innings on seven hits.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Holding a 2-0 lead after the game's first two innings, K-State's lead swelled with a pair of two-run home runs in the third – one each from Phillips and Cole Johnson. Phillips' homer scored Hughes, who led off the inning with a double, while Johnson's home run scored Nicoloff to give the Cats a six-run lead.
Following an hour weather delay, Leahy connected on a two-run home run in the fourth to cut in to the Bears' deficit. UNC chipped away with a run in the fifth before two more in the seventh, getting within two at 7-5.
Nicoloff's fifth homer of the year, coming in the seventh, handed K-State a two-run cushion. K-State looked to put the game away in the bottom of the eighth when it loaded the bases with one out. Metz wiggled out of the jam with a strikeout before an inning-ending groundout.
Northern Colorado brought the tying run to the plate with one out in the top of the ninth. Ruhl closed the game with back-to-back strikeouts to earn the first save of his career and snap the Cats' four-game skid.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
UP NEXT
K-State and Northern Colorado wrap up the two-game midweek set Wednesday at 6 p.m. The game can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Radio coverage can be heard on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) with free, live audio is also available at K-StateSports.com/Watch.
Phillips' two-run homer in the third inning not only doubled K-State's lead, but put him one home run away from tying the program's all-time mark of 37. His fifth home run of the season was the first of three hit by the Wildcats (12-11) in snapping their four-game skid.
Cole Johnson followed Phillips with a two-run bomb of his own in the third inning, helping the Cats score six runs over the first three frames before a 60-minute rain and lightning delay. The start of the contest was also delayed by 47 minutes due to weather concerns.
"I love jumping on a team early, especially at home," head coach Pete Hughes said. "I'm glad we did because they came out and played with more urgency than we did after the delay. Good for our guys coming out and getting our bats going early and doing what we're supposed to do at home midweek. You've got to sustain it though; you've got to play nine innings, but it was a good start."
In his first start of the season, German Fajardo struck out a career-high eight over three innings before the delay. Fajardo, a transfer from Arizona, picked up his first win of the season and scattered four hits while not allowing a run.
Northern Colorado (6-20) outscored the Cats 5-2 over the next four innings out of the delay. UNC plated two runs in the both the fourth and seventh innings to trim the lead to two runs at 7-5. Aiden Leahy lifted a two-run homer in the fourth before Josh Glenn's and Lincoln Turner's RBIs in the seventh inched the Bears within two at the seventh-inning stretch.
"We're definitely not at the stage of the season to be playing sloppy baseball," added Hughes. "When you get somebody down 6-0 at home, whether there's a rain delay or not, if you're hungry and have urgency, then you put people away. You don't let them crawl back in and we let them crawl back in, so it was disappointing. The upside is we got some guys out there that we're trying to see if they can be pieces to the puzzle out of the bullpen. We got those guys some work and won a ballgame."
Josh Nicoloff pushed the lead back to three runs with a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh. Nicoloff was one of five Wildcats to tally two hits, as he extended his on-base streak to 18 games.
K-State took advantage of two first-inning errors by the Bears, which allowed Nick Goodwin to lift a sacrifice fly and score Dom Hughes. Goodwin added a second sac fly in the fourth and finished the night with two runs batted in.
Raphael Pelletier's RBI double in the second inning doubled the Wildcats' lead before K-State's four-run third.
The Cats looked to put the game away in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with one out and leading by two. UNC reliever Jayden Metz ended the threat with a strikeout and a groundout to give his club a chance in the ninth.
Northern Colorado brought the tying run to the plate with one out, but reliever Ty Ruhl picked up back-to-back strikeouts to end the game and earn his first career save. Ruhl tossed the final 1 2/3 innings and finished with four strikeouts.
In total, five K-State pitchers combined to 17 strikeouts – equaling its season high. Landry Jurecka added three strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings.
Dominic Johnson, hitting leadoff, went 2-for-5 and has turned in multiple hits in 12 of his last 14 games.
Hughes, Cole Johnson, Nicoloff and Phillips all had two-hit days. Nicoloff and Phillips are tied for the team lead with five home runs apiece on the year.
UNC second baseman Shaydon Kubo led his team by going 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Lucas Allena and Glenn both collected two hits for the Bears.
Starter Kevin Sharp suffered the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) over three innings on seven hits.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Holding a 2-0 lead after the game's first two innings, K-State's lead swelled with a pair of two-run home runs in the third – one each from Phillips and Cole Johnson. Phillips' homer scored Hughes, who led off the inning with a double, while Johnson's home run scored Nicoloff to give the Cats a six-run lead.
Following an hour weather delay, Leahy connected on a two-run home run in the fourth to cut in to the Bears' deficit. UNC chipped away with a run in the fifth before two more in the seventh, getting within two at 7-5.
Nicoloff's fifth homer of the year, coming in the seventh, handed K-State a two-run cushion. K-State looked to put the game away in the bottom of the eighth when it loaded the bases with one out. Metz wiggled out of the jam with a strikeout before an inning-ending groundout.
Northern Colorado brought the tying run to the plate with one out in the top of the ninth. Ruhl closed the game with back-to-back strikeouts to earn the first save of his career and snap the Cats' four-game skid.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State scored eight runs on 12 hits, did not commit an error and left nine on base.
- Northern Colorado scored six runs on 13 hits with five errors and stranded 10 baserunners.
- Five Wildcats registered two-hit games while three drove in multiple runs.
- Cole Johnson, Nicoloff and Phillips each homered in the game.
- Hughes and Pelletier doubled, while Hughes scored three times.
- The top three in the K-State order combined to go 6-for-12.
- Five Wildcat pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts, matching their season high.
- Fajardo struck out a career-high eight over three innings in his first start.
- Ruhl finished with four strikeouts over 1 2/3 innings of relief, earning his first career save.
- K-State hit .300 with runners in scoring position and with two outs.
- Northern Colorado hit .231 with runners in scoring position and .357 with two outs.
- K-State leads the all-time series 19-1 and have won six straight in the series.
- All 20 games between the teams have been played in Manhattan.
- Phillips moved into a second-place tie on K-State's career home runs list with 36.
- Phillips is one homer shy of tying the all-time program record of 37 (Scott Poepard).
- Dominic Johnson has multiple hits in 12 of his last 14 games.
- Nicoloff's on-base stretch reached 18 games.
- The Wildcats snapped their four-game losing streak.
- The start of the game was delayed 47 minutes due to weather and a second delay occurred after the third inning (60 minutes).
UP NEXT
K-State and Northern Colorado wrap up the two-game midweek set Wednesday at 6 p.m. The game can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Radio coverage can be heard on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) with free, live audio is also available at K-StateSports.com/Watch.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fajardo, German (1-1)
L: Kevin SHARP (0-2)
S: Ruhl, Ty (1)
Batting:
2B: Shaydon KUBO 1 ; Josh GLENN 2 ; Jacob BANISTER 1 ; Aaron GARCIA 1
HR: Aiden LEAHY 1
RBI: Shaydon KUBO 1 ; Josh GLENN 1 ; Garrett FISHER 1 ; Lincoln TURNER 1 ; Aiden LEAHY 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Shaydon KUBO 2 ; Josh GLENN 1 ; Lucas ALLEN 1 ; Jacob BANISTER 1 ; Aiden LEAHY 1
CS: Josh GLENN 1
HBP: Lincoln TURNER 1
Batting:
2B: Hughes, Dom 1 ; Pelletier, Raphael 1
HR: Phillips, Dylan 1 ; Nicoloff, Josh 1 ; Johnson, Cole 1
RBI: Phillips, Dylan 2 ; Goodwin, Nick 2 ; Nicoloff, Josh 1 ; Johnson, Cole 2 ; Pelletier, Raphael 1
SF: Goodwin, Nick 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Hughes, Dom 3 ; Phillips, Dylan 1 ; Nicoloff, Josh 2 ; Johnson, Cole 1 ; Culpepper, Kaelen 1
SB: Johnson, Dominic 1
CS: Johnson, Cole 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballOF/LHP
/ Baseball
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