Kansas State University Athletics
Monday, April 18
Wichita, Kan.
6 p.m.
Kansas State University
18-17
12
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Wichita State
13-23
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5
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9
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E
Kansas State
1
4
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12
10
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Wichita State
0
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6
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Cats Roll to 12-1 Victory Over Wichita State Monday
Apr 18, 2022 | Baseball
WICHITA, Kan. – K-State scored 12 runs in the game's first four innings Monday night while German Fajardo logged five shutout innings on the mound, leading the Wildcats to a 12-1 win over Wichita State Monday night at Eck Stadium.
K-State (18-17) put up crooked numbers in the second, third and fourth frames, racing out to a 12-0 lead. Brady Day led the K-State offense with three hits, going 3-for-4 with an RBI triple and two runs scored, helping the Cats snap a three-game skid to their in-state rival.
"This is a tough place to play after an emotional weekend," head coach Pete Hughes said after the game. "I loved the way our guys approached (today). This is a place we haven't played well the last three years. I loved the way we started, when you have a dominant pitching performance on the mound, it allows you to build a big lead and keep the momentum for the rest of the game."
K-State posted four runs in the second and saw its lead double to 10 runs in the third after a five spot. Wichita State (13-23) did not register its first hit until the bottom of the third, as Fajardo yielded just a pair of hits over his five innings of work.
"It makes things a lot easier," added Hughes on his team's early lead. "That's a pretty convincing lead right there, then you've got the momentum for the rest of the night. It makes everything easier: your pitching calling, your defense and lets you pitcher get settled in. Everyone participated, one through nine, and we got production from the bottom part of our order, too."
Wichita State starter Robert Cranz's day ended after the first four Wildcat hitters reached in the second, the last being a bases-loaded walk to Jeff Heinrich. Cranz ended with five runs (three earned) on three hits and three walks in an inning.
Ryan Stuempfig took over for Cranz and was tagged for five earned runs on five hits over just 1 2/3 innings.
The Cats' four-run second featured RBIs from Heinrich, Orlando Salinas and Josh Nicoloff.
The lead doubled after the Cats put up five in the third. In the inning, Day ripped an RBI triple, Dominic Hughes added an RBI single and Nicoloff tallied a two-run, two-out single for a 10-run lead.
Two more runs came in the fourth, highlighted by an RBI double from Heinrich. Dominic Johnson chipped in a sacrifice fly to push the unanswered run to a dozen runs.
Fajardo faced the minimum through three innings, not allowing his first hit until Jordan Rogers' leadoff infield single in the third. His base hit was wiped away by a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play. Fajardo needed just eight pitches in retiring the side in order in both the first and second innings.
The Shockers managed to load the bases in the fourth following a walk drawn by Brock Rodden, a single from Sawyre Thornhill and a fielder's choice from Xavier Casserilla. Fajardo kept WSU off the scoreboard with back-to-back strikeouts.
Ben Weber took over for Fajardo and kept the shutout intact through the eighth. Weber allowed just one base hit and struck out four, including an inning-ending punchout with the bases loaded in the eighth.
The Shockers, who had three hits entering the ninth inning, plated their lone run on a Rogers one-out double. Payton Tolle led off the inning with a double, as they represented WSU's only extra-base hits in the ballgame.
Wichita State utilized six pitchers in the contest, who combined for nine walks. Creighton Hansen, Spencer Hynes and Foster Gifford limited the Cats to one total hit over the last four innings.
K-State hit .280 with runners on base while Wichita State went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and 1-for-8 with two outs.
The 11-run margin of victory was one away from equaling K-State's most lopsided win in the series' history.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
K-State handed Fajardo a one-run lead before he took the hill, as Dominic Johnson led off the game by drawing a walk and advanced to third on a single from Salinas. Johnson was able to spring home on a wild pitch for the game's first run before Cranz retired the next three Wildcat batters.
The Cats took advantage of two walks from Cranz, in addition to a WSU error, in their four-run second inning. The first four reached against Cranz, whose day ended after his he walked Heinrich with the bases loaded. Salinas and Nicoloff tallied back-to-back RBIs, extending the K-State lead to five runs.
Five additional runs came in the third, swelling K-State's lead to 10 runs. In the inning, Day recorded an RBI triple, Hughes an RBI single and Nicoloff drove in a pair with a two-out single, as the Cats' offense finished with five hits.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
UP NEXT
K-State will host Omaha on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The game can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and with radio coverage on News Radio KMAN. Free, live audio is also available at K-StateSports.com/Watch.
K-State (18-17) put up crooked numbers in the second, third and fourth frames, racing out to a 12-0 lead. Brady Day led the K-State offense with three hits, going 3-for-4 with an RBI triple and two runs scored, helping the Cats snap a three-game skid to their in-state rival.
"This is a tough place to play after an emotional weekend," head coach Pete Hughes said after the game. "I loved the way our guys approached (today). This is a place we haven't played well the last three years. I loved the way we started, when you have a dominant pitching performance on the mound, it allows you to build a big lead and keep the momentum for the rest of the game."
K-State posted four runs in the second and saw its lead double to 10 runs in the third after a five spot. Wichita State (13-23) did not register its first hit until the bottom of the third, as Fajardo yielded just a pair of hits over his five innings of work.
"It makes things a lot easier," added Hughes on his team's early lead. "That's a pretty convincing lead right there, then you've got the momentum for the rest of the night. It makes everything easier: your pitching calling, your defense and lets you pitcher get settled in. Everyone participated, one through nine, and we got production from the bottom part of our order, too."
Wichita State starter Robert Cranz's day ended after the first four Wildcat hitters reached in the second, the last being a bases-loaded walk to Jeff Heinrich. Cranz ended with five runs (three earned) on three hits and three walks in an inning.
Ryan Stuempfig took over for Cranz and was tagged for five earned runs on five hits over just 1 2/3 innings.
The Cats' four-run second featured RBIs from Heinrich, Orlando Salinas and Josh Nicoloff.
The lead doubled after the Cats put up five in the third. In the inning, Day ripped an RBI triple, Dominic Hughes added an RBI single and Nicoloff tallied a two-run, two-out single for a 10-run lead.
Two more runs came in the fourth, highlighted by an RBI double from Heinrich. Dominic Johnson chipped in a sacrifice fly to push the unanswered run to a dozen runs.
Fajardo faced the minimum through three innings, not allowing his first hit until Jordan Rogers' leadoff infield single in the third. His base hit was wiped away by a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play. Fajardo needed just eight pitches in retiring the side in order in both the first and second innings.
The Shockers managed to load the bases in the fourth following a walk drawn by Brock Rodden, a single from Sawyre Thornhill and a fielder's choice from Xavier Casserilla. Fajardo kept WSU off the scoreboard with back-to-back strikeouts.
Ben Weber took over for Fajardo and kept the shutout intact through the eighth. Weber allowed just one base hit and struck out four, including an inning-ending punchout with the bases loaded in the eighth.
The Shockers, who had three hits entering the ninth inning, plated their lone run on a Rogers one-out double. Payton Tolle led off the inning with a double, as they represented WSU's only extra-base hits in the ballgame.
Wichita State utilized six pitchers in the contest, who combined for nine walks. Creighton Hansen, Spencer Hynes and Foster Gifford limited the Cats to one total hit over the last four innings.
K-State hit .280 with runners on base while Wichita State went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and 1-for-8 with two outs.
The 11-run margin of victory was one away from equaling K-State's most lopsided win in the series' history.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
K-State handed Fajardo a one-run lead before he took the hill, as Dominic Johnson led off the game by drawing a walk and advanced to third on a single from Salinas. Johnson was able to spring home on a wild pitch for the game's first run before Cranz retired the next three Wildcat batters.
The Cats took advantage of two walks from Cranz, in addition to a WSU error, in their four-run second inning. The first four reached against Cranz, whose day ended after his he walked Heinrich with the bases loaded. Salinas and Nicoloff tallied back-to-back RBIs, extending the K-State lead to five runs.
Five additional runs came in the third, swelling K-State's lead to 10 runs. In the inning, Day recorded an RBI triple, Hughes an RBI single and Nicoloff drove in a pair with a two-out single, as the Cats' offense finished with five hits.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State scored 12 runs on 10 hits with one error and left nine on base.
- Wichita State scored one run on six hits, committed one error and stranded nine baserunners.
- All 12 of K-State's runs came in the first four innings.
- Day led all players with three hits, going 3-for-4 with an RBI triple and two runs scored.
- Day's three hits matched a career high.
- Heinrich doubled twice and went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in.
- Hughes each registered two hits.
- Six Wildcats recorded a base hit.
- Fajardo tossed five shutout innings in the start, scattering two hits in earning his second win.
- Fajardo struck out four and faced the minimum through the game's first three innings.
- Weber struck out four over three scoreless frames, allowing one hit.
- Wichita State scored its only run in the ninth inning, getting an RBI double from Rogers.
- Both of the Shockers' extra-base hits came in the ninth.
- K-State hit .280 with runners on base.
- Wichita State went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and 1-for-8 with two outs.
- This was the 99th all-time meeting between the in-state rivals, dating back to 1906, as Wichita State now leads the all-time series 56-43.
- The Wildcats' margin of victory was one shy of the most lopsided win in the series' history (12 runs in 2000).
- The 12 runs are the most K-State has scored against WSU since 2013 (20).
- The Cats are now 5-10 in true road games and 5-13 away from home.
- K-State is 17-36 on the road against the Shockers and snapped a three-game losing skid last at Eck Stadium.
- Hughes is 2-3 against WSU while at K-State.
UP NEXT
K-State will host Omaha on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The game can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and with radio coverage on News Radio KMAN. Free, live audio is also available at K-StateSports.com/Watch.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fajardo, German (2-1)
L: Cranz, Robert (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Heinrich, Jeff 2
3B: Day, Brady 1
RBI: Johnson, Dominic 2 ; Salinas, Jr., Orlando 1 ; Nicoloff, Josh 3 ; Day, Brady 1 ; Hughes, Dom 1 ; Heinrich, Jeff 2
SF: Johnson, Dominic 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Johnson, Dominic 2 ; Johnson, Cole 1 ; Day, Brady 2 ; Mitchell, Justin 2 ; Hughes, Dom 3 ; Heinrich, Jeff 2
SB: Day, Brady 1
Batting:
2B: Tolle, Payton 1 ; Rogers, Jordan 1
RBI: Rogers, Jordan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tolle, Payton 1
SB: Rodden, Brock 1 ; Stewart, Andrew 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
rf/lf
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
6
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
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