Kansas State University Athletics
Tuesday, April 5
Manhattan, Kan.
6 p.m.
Kansas State University
15-13
7
vs
5
Creighton
15-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Creighton
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
3
5
11
1
K-State
3
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
X
7
9
3
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
Four Homers, 18 Strikeouts Lead K-State Past Creighton
Apr 05, 2022 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State matched its season high with four home runs while its pitching staff struck out a season-high 18 hitters in the Wildcats' 7-5 victory over Creighton Tuesday night at Tointon Family Stadium.
Nick Goodwin, Dominic Johnson, Dylan Phillips and Orlando Salinas each homered, as six of the Cats' seven runs came via the long ball. Phillips belted a three-run homer in the first inning, his ninth of the season, 40th of his career and fifth over his last six games.
Starter Wesley Moore struck out a career-high eight over his 3 1/3 innings of work while Blake Corsentino's nine strikeouts over 3 1/3 also marked a career best. The 18 total strikeouts were one shy of tying the program's all-time single-game record of 19, set in 1976 against Wayne State.
"It's always good to win midweek," head coach Pete Hughes said. "I thought it was critical for our program and our overall resume to have success in that game. That's a quality opponent and these guys will win a lot of games, and they already have. That was big. We've got to take advantage of these opportunities.
"Nothing like winning to feel good about your program. I tell our guys this all the time, 'it doesn't matter if it's Tuesday night or Friday night, winning's winning.' It was important for us to win tonight."
Eight of the 10 outs recorded by Moore came by way of a strikeout. He did not allow a hit until the third inning and turned in a career-long outing.
Corsentino, who earned his second victory of the year, struck out the first five Bluejay hitters he saw. The righty from Ventura, California, scattered three hits and did not issue a walk.
After Phillips staked K-State (15-13) to an early three-run lead, Johnson tacked on a solo shot in the second to extend the lead to four.
Creighton (15-8) scraped across single runs in the third and fourth innings to trim the deficit in half. Alan Roden and Hogan Helligso each registered RBI singles in making it a 4-2 contest.
Goodwin laced an opposite-field homer to lead off the sixth, Cole Johnson tallied a two-out RBI single in the seventh and Salinas' solo homer in the eighth inflated the Cats' lead to five runs at 7-2.
Both Goodwin and Salinas homered for the second straight game, as the Wildcats have totaled 12 home runs over the last four games (longest of any four-game stretch this season). K-State has hit multiple home runs in each of its last four outings.
In the top of the ninth, Creighton managed three runs on three hits to make it a two-run game. The frame was highlighted by a two-run, pinch-hit triple by Jack Peluso. Jared Wegner also chipped in an RBI single.
"I thought we played sloppy in the beginning, and I thought we played sloppy at the end," Hughes added. "Definitely not the standard we are holding our program to, but we had some guys pick each other up. Corsentino did a great job settling things down. Wes Moore on his way back, Tyson Neighbors – that was his best outing of the year for me, composure wise and stuff wise and ability to throw strikes. There's a lot more positives out of this game."
Wegner led the Bluejays with his 4-for-5 effort while Roden finished 2-for-4.
Neighbors, in relief of Moore, logged 1 1/3 innings with two hits allowed.
Dominic Johnson produced K-State's only multi-hit game and reached base three times, ending 2-for-3 with a walk, RBI and two runs scored.
Eight of the nine Wildcats in the starting lineups registered a base hit.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
After Dominic Johnson and Jeff Heinrich began the first inning with consecutive singles, Phillips drove them both in with a 422-foot home run over the videoboard in right field to stake K-State to an early 3-0 lead. It was Phillips' ninth home run of the season, 40th of his career and fifth home run over his last six games.
Johnson tacked on an opposite-field solo shot in the second, pushing K-State's lead to four runs.
Creighton got on the board in the top of the third when an infield single by Roden brought home Andrew Meggs. CU trimmed the deficit to two in the next inning with Helliglso's RBI single.
Goodwin laced an opposite-field homer to lead off the sixth, Cole Johnson tallied a two-out RBI single in the seventh and Salinas' solo homer in the eighth to inflate the Cats' lead to five runs at 7-2.
In the top of the ninth, Creighton managed three runs on three hits to make it a two-run game. The frame was highlighted by a two-run, pinch-hit triple by Peluso. Wegner also chipped in an RBI single.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
UP NEXT
K-State travels to Lubbock, Texas, to meet up with No. 3 Texas Tech for a three-game set starting Friday. The series 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 available at K-StateSports.com/Watch.
Nick Goodwin, Dominic Johnson, Dylan Phillips and Orlando Salinas each homered, as six of the Cats' seven runs came via the long ball. Phillips belted a three-run homer in the first inning, his ninth of the season, 40th of his career and fifth over his last six games.
Starter Wesley Moore struck out a career-high eight over his 3 1/3 innings of work while Blake Corsentino's nine strikeouts over 3 1/3 also marked a career best. The 18 total strikeouts were one shy of tying the program's all-time single-game record of 19, set in 1976 against Wayne State.
"It's always good to win midweek," head coach Pete Hughes said. "I thought it was critical for our program and our overall resume to have success in that game. That's a quality opponent and these guys will win a lot of games, and they already have. That was big. We've got to take advantage of these opportunities.
"Nothing like winning to feel good about your program. I tell our guys this all the time, 'it doesn't matter if it's Tuesday night or Friday night, winning's winning.' It was important for us to win tonight."
Eight of the 10 outs recorded by Moore came by way of a strikeout. He did not allow a hit until the third inning and turned in a career-long outing.
Corsentino, who earned his second victory of the year, struck out the first five Bluejay hitters he saw. The righty from Ventura, California, scattered three hits and did not issue a walk.
After Phillips staked K-State (15-13) to an early three-run lead, Johnson tacked on a solo shot in the second to extend the lead to four.
Creighton (15-8) scraped across single runs in the third and fourth innings to trim the deficit in half. Alan Roden and Hogan Helligso each registered RBI singles in making it a 4-2 contest.
Goodwin laced an opposite-field homer to lead off the sixth, Cole Johnson tallied a two-out RBI single in the seventh and Salinas' solo homer in the eighth inflated the Cats' lead to five runs at 7-2.
Both Goodwin and Salinas homered for the second straight game, as the Wildcats have totaled 12 home runs over the last four games (longest of any four-game stretch this season). K-State has hit multiple home runs in each of its last four outings.
In the top of the ninth, Creighton managed three runs on three hits to make it a two-run game. The frame was highlighted by a two-run, pinch-hit triple by Jack Peluso. Jared Wegner also chipped in an RBI single.
"I thought we played sloppy in the beginning, and I thought we played sloppy at the end," Hughes added. "Definitely not the standard we are holding our program to, but we had some guys pick each other up. Corsentino did a great job settling things down. Wes Moore on his way back, Tyson Neighbors – that was his best outing of the year for me, composure wise and stuff wise and ability to throw strikes. There's a lot more positives out of this game."
Wegner led the Bluejays with his 4-for-5 effort while Roden finished 2-for-4.
Neighbors, in relief of Moore, logged 1 1/3 innings with two hits allowed.
Dominic Johnson produced K-State's only multi-hit game and reached base three times, ending 2-for-3 with a walk, RBI and two runs scored.
Eight of the nine Wildcats in the starting lineups registered a base hit.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
After Dominic Johnson and Jeff Heinrich began the first inning with consecutive singles, Phillips drove them both in with a 422-foot home run over the videoboard in right field to stake K-State to an early 3-0 lead. It was Phillips' ninth home run of the season, 40th of his career and fifth home run over his last six games.
Johnson tacked on an opposite-field solo shot in the second, pushing K-State's lead to four runs.
Creighton got on the board in the top of the third when an infield single by Roden brought home Andrew Meggs. CU trimmed the deficit to two in the next inning with Helliglso's RBI single.
Goodwin laced an opposite-field homer to lead off the sixth, Cole Johnson tallied a two-out RBI single in the seventh and Salinas' solo homer in the eighth to inflate the Cats' lead to five runs at 7-2.
In the top of the ninth, Creighton managed three runs on three hits to make it a two-run game. The frame was highlighted by a two-run, pinch-hit triple by Peluso. Wegner also chipped in an RBI single.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State scored seven runs on nine hits with three error and left five on base.
- Creighton scored five runs on 11 hits, committed one error and stranded 10 baserunners.
- K-State tied its season high with four home runs while the pitching staff set a season high with 18 strikeouts.
- Goodwin, Dominic Johnson, Phillips and Salinas each homered.
- Six of the Wildcats' seven runs came via the home run.
- Phillips has five home runs over his last six games while Goodwin and Salinas homered for the second straight contest.
- Corsentino (9) and Moore (8) each set career highs in strikeouts while each logging 3 1/3 innings.
- Dominic Johnson reached base three times and produced K-State's only multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a walk, RBI and two runs scored.
- Wegner led Creighton with his 4-for-5 effort.
- Roden finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.
- Leach allowed four earned runs on five hits over 1 1/3 innings in the loss.
- The Cats got their leadoff man on base in four of eight innings while the Bluejays did so just once.
- K-State hit .444 with two outs while Creighton hit .385.
- The Wildcats hit .400 with runners in scoring position to CU's .308.
- K-State leads the all-time series 53-44-1, dating back to 1903.
- The Wildcats are now 38-19-1 at home in the series.
- Hughes is now 2-2 against the Bluejays, as this was the first meeting between the teams since 2019.
- K-State's 18 strikeouts marked a season high and were one shy of equaling the program's single-game record of 19 set in 1976 against Wayne State.
- The Cats have hit 12 home runs over the last four games, with multiple bombs in each game contest.
UP NEXT
K-State travels to Lubbock, Texas, to meet up with No. 3 Texas Tech for a three-game set starting Friday. The series 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 available at K-StateSports.com/Watch.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Corsentino, Blake (2-2)
L: Hudson Leach (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Chris Esposito 1 ; Kyle Hess 1
3B: Jack Peluso 1
RBI: Alan Roden 1 ; Jared Wegner 1 ; Jack Peluso 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Andrew Meggs 1 ; Alan Roden 1 ; Jared Wegner 1 ; Chris Esposito 1 ; Kyle Hess 1
HBP: Alan Roden 1 ; Chris Esposito 1 ; Kyle Hess 1
PO: Kyle Hess 1
Batting:
HR: Johnson, Dominic 1 ; Phillips, Dylan 1 ; Goodwin, Nick 1 ; Salinas, Jr., Orlando 1
RBI: Johnson, Dominic 1 ; Phillips, Dylan 3 ; Johnson, Cole 1 ; Goodwin, Nick 1 ; Salinas, Jr., Orlando 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Johnson, Dominic 2 ; Heinrich, Jeff 1 ; Phillips, Dylan 1 ; Goodwin, Nick 1 ; Salinas, Jr., Orlando 1 ; Culpepper, Kaelen 1
CS: Salinas, Jr., Orlando 1
HBP: Mitchell, Justin 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
rf/p
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballINF/OF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF/LHP
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