Kansas State University Athletics
Sunday, May 1
Norman, Okla.
2 p.m.
Kansas State University
22-21, 0
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Oklahoma
27-15, 0
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Kansas State
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Oklahoma
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1
Johnson’s Go-Ahead Homer Caps K-State’s Comeback Win
May 01, 2022 | Baseball
NORMAN, Okla. – Dominic Johnson connected on a go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning, capping a stretch of six unanswered runs to complete K-State's 8-7 comeback victory over Oklahoma Sunday in the series finale at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
K-State (22-21, 4-11 Big 12) faced a 6-2 deficit through six innings before scoring two in the seventh and four more in the eighth. Josh Nicoloff ignited the eighth-inning rally with a leadoff homer against OU's closer Trevin Michael before Johnson's blast punctuated the come-from-behind win.
"That's a high-character win after Friday and Saturday," said head coach Pete Hughes. "It takes a team that's close knit and believes in their skillset. No one ever finger-points and they just move on to the next game. Then we go down in this game and all the breaks are going against you and to not let yourself get into that negative place, it takes a lot of character. So a really good day to build for our program."
The Wildcats began to chip away at the Sooners' four-run lead, as Justin Mitchell led off the seventh with a double and came home on a Kaelen Culpepper RBI single. With two outs and on an 0-2 pitch, Dylan Phillips laced an opposite-field double.
In the four-run eighth, K-State roped four extra-base hits, including a Mitchell RBI double and a Jeff Heinrich double off Michael.
Oklahoma (27-15, 9-6 Big 12) turned to Michael, who entered Sunday with six saves and a 2.16 ERA, in the sixth inning. He suffered the loss after being tagged for six earned runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings.
Blake Adams pitched into the sixth inning in the start for the Wildcats and gave way to Blake Corsentino after the first three OU hitters reached. Corsentino retired all three he faced to escape further damage in the inning.
"I think we brought in Corsentino at just the right time to give them a different look," Hughes added. "I thought Blake (Adams) gave us a solid start and you can do a lot of things when you get a quality outing from your starter. He gave us a chance today."
Corsentino tossed a scoreless seventh and finished with one earned run on three hits over his three relief innings. The junior righty earned his third win of the season. Adams struck out three and allowed six runs on nine hits in a no-decision effort.
Phillips, who tallied two RBI in the game, came on to log a scoreless ninth and pick up his team-leading third save of the season. With nobody out and the tying run on first, Phillips induced a 6-3 double play before a game-ending pop out.
K-State turned three double plays in earning its first conference road win.
Adams, Corsentino and Phillips combined to hold the Sooners without a hit with two outs (0-for-7).
Oklahoma built its lead behind a solo home run by Jackson Nicklaus in the first and a two-run shot by Brett Squires in the second.
Nicklaus, who homered three times int eh series, tacked on an RBI single in the fifth. Wallace Clark's two-run double in the sixth capped the Sooner's 6-2 run.
Culpepper and Mitchell each produced a team-high two hits, going 2-for-3. Mitchell doubled twice and Culpepper added a double.
Seven of the Cats' 10 hits went for extra bases.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
K-State manufactured a run in the top of the first, as Johnson, the leadoff hitter, was hit by a pitch. Johnson then stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Hughes. Phillips lifted a fly ball to left that allowed Johnson to scamper home for the Cats' first lead of the series.
Oklahoma leveled the score with one swing of the bat in the home half, as Nicklaus led off the first with a solo homer. Squires gave OU its first lead with a two-run shot an inning later, scoring Clark who earlier doubled.
The Cats sought to tie the score as they put a pair in scoring position with in the third inning. Culpepper and Dominic Johnson each walked and advanced on Hughes' second sacrifice bunt of the game. The duo was stranded after Chazz Martinez induced back-to-back fly outs to end the inning.
Mitchell drew a leadoff walk in the fifth and Culpepper followed with a double, as the Wildcats again placed two in scoring position – this time with nobody out – but were only able to get a single run across on a wild pitch by Martinez. Martinez struck out consecutive hitters to limit K-State to one run.
An RBI single from Nicklaus in the next half inning pushed OU's lead back to two, 4-2. Oklahoma threatened for more, as it loaded the bases with one out. Adams forced Robertson to ground into a threat-ending 3-6-3 double play.
The first three Sooners hit safely in the sixth, as back-to-back doubles from Crooks and Clark resulted in two runs and ended Adams' afternoon. Corsentino lifted Adams and sat down all three he faced to prevent further damage, as OU took a 6-2 lead to the seventh.
Mitchell started the seventh with a double and came home a batter later on Culpepper's RBI single. With two outs and facing an 0-2 count, Phillips drove a ball to the opposite field for a double, inching the Cats within two runs at 6-4 as the game hit the seventh-inning stretch.
K-State pushed its run to six unanswered with a four-run eighth, all coming against OU closer Michael. Nicoloff led off the eighth with a home run and later Mitchell tied the game with an RBI double to score Heinrich who stood on second after a double.
Dominic Johnson delivered the go-ahead blow, as he sent a two-run rocket over the left field fence with two outs. The Cats tallied four hits, all for extra bases, in claiming their second lead of the day.
Oklahoma cut K-State's lead in half in the bottom of the eighth. Horton lifted a sacrifice fly to score Clark, who earlier singled.
With the tying run on the base and nobody out in the ninth, Phillips induced a 6-3 double play before a game-ending pop out. Phillips picked up his team-leading third save of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
K-State begins a seven-game homestand Tuesday against in-state rival Wichita State at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with radio coverage on News Radio KMAN. Free, live audio is also available at K-StateSports.com/Watch.
K-State (22-21, 4-11 Big 12) faced a 6-2 deficit through six innings before scoring two in the seventh and four more in the eighth. Josh Nicoloff ignited the eighth-inning rally with a leadoff homer against OU's closer Trevin Michael before Johnson's blast punctuated the come-from-behind win.
"That's a high-character win after Friday and Saturday," said head coach Pete Hughes. "It takes a team that's close knit and believes in their skillset. No one ever finger-points and they just move on to the next game. Then we go down in this game and all the breaks are going against you and to not let yourself get into that negative place, it takes a lot of character. So a really good day to build for our program."
The Wildcats began to chip away at the Sooners' four-run lead, as Justin Mitchell led off the seventh with a double and came home on a Kaelen Culpepper RBI single. With two outs and on an 0-2 pitch, Dylan Phillips laced an opposite-field double.
In the four-run eighth, K-State roped four extra-base hits, including a Mitchell RBI double and a Jeff Heinrich double off Michael.
Oklahoma (27-15, 9-6 Big 12) turned to Michael, who entered Sunday with six saves and a 2.16 ERA, in the sixth inning. He suffered the loss after being tagged for six earned runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings.
Blake Adams pitched into the sixth inning in the start for the Wildcats and gave way to Blake Corsentino after the first three OU hitters reached. Corsentino retired all three he faced to escape further damage in the inning.
"I think we brought in Corsentino at just the right time to give them a different look," Hughes added. "I thought Blake (Adams) gave us a solid start and you can do a lot of things when you get a quality outing from your starter. He gave us a chance today."
Corsentino tossed a scoreless seventh and finished with one earned run on three hits over his three relief innings. The junior righty earned his third win of the season. Adams struck out three and allowed six runs on nine hits in a no-decision effort.
Phillips, who tallied two RBI in the game, came on to log a scoreless ninth and pick up his team-leading third save of the season. With nobody out and the tying run on first, Phillips induced a 6-3 double play before a game-ending pop out.
K-State turned three double plays in earning its first conference road win.
Adams, Corsentino and Phillips combined to hold the Sooners without a hit with two outs (0-for-7).
Oklahoma built its lead behind a solo home run by Jackson Nicklaus in the first and a two-run shot by Brett Squires in the second.
Nicklaus, who homered three times int eh series, tacked on an RBI single in the fifth. Wallace Clark's two-run double in the sixth capped the Sooner's 6-2 run.
Culpepper and Mitchell each produced a team-high two hits, going 2-for-3. Mitchell doubled twice and Culpepper added a double.
Seven of the Cats' 10 hits went for extra bases.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
K-State manufactured a run in the top of the first, as Johnson, the leadoff hitter, was hit by a pitch. Johnson then stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Hughes. Phillips lifted a fly ball to left that allowed Johnson to scamper home for the Cats' first lead of the series.
Oklahoma leveled the score with one swing of the bat in the home half, as Nicklaus led off the first with a solo homer. Squires gave OU its first lead with a two-run shot an inning later, scoring Clark who earlier doubled.
The Cats sought to tie the score as they put a pair in scoring position with in the third inning. Culpepper and Dominic Johnson each walked and advanced on Hughes' second sacrifice bunt of the game. The duo was stranded after Chazz Martinez induced back-to-back fly outs to end the inning.
Mitchell drew a leadoff walk in the fifth and Culpepper followed with a double, as the Wildcats again placed two in scoring position – this time with nobody out – but were only able to get a single run across on a wild pitch by Martinez. Martinez struck out consecutive hitters to limit K-State to one run.
An RBI single from Nicklaus in the next half inning pushed OU's lead back to two, 4-2. Oklahoma threatened for more, as it loaded the bases with one out. Adams forced Robertson to ground into a threat-ending 3-6-3 double play.
The first three Sooners hit safely in the sixth, as back-to-back doubles from Crooks and Clark resulted in two runs and ended Adams' afternoon. Corsentino lifted Adams and sat down all three he faced to prevent further damage, as OU took a 6-2 lead to the seventh.
Mitchell started the seventh with a double and came home a batter later on Culpepper's RBI single. With two outs and facing an 0-2 count, Phillips drove a ball to the opposite field for a double, inching the Cats within two runs at 6-4 as the game hit the seventh-inning stretch.
K-State pushed its run to six unanswered with a four-run eighth, all coming against OU closer Michael. Nicoloff led off the eighth with a home run and later Mitchell tied the game with an RBI double to score Heinrich who stood on second after a double.
Dominic Johnson delivered the go-ahead blow, as he sent a two-run rocket over the left field fence with two outs. The Cats tallied four hits, all for extra bases, in claiming their second lead of the day.
Oklahoma cut K-State's lead in half in the bottom of the eighth. Horton lifted a sacrifice fly to score Clark, who earlier singled.
With the tying run on the base and nobody out in the ninth, Phillips induced a 6-3 double play before a game-ending pop out. Phillips picked up his team-leading third save of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State scored eight runs on 10 hits without an error and left six on base.
- Oklahoma scored six runs on 13 hits, committed one error and stranded six baserunners.
- Johnson and Nicoloff each homered for K-State, with Johnson's being a go-ahead two-run shot in the eighth.
- The Wildcats scored six unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth innings to overcome a four-run deficit.
- K-State turned three double plays, two coming over the last three innings.
- Culpepper and Mitchell each went 2-for-3.
- Mitchell doubled twice as K-State registered seven extra-base hits.
- Adams pitched into the sixth inning, striking out three in a no-decision effort.
- Corsentino earned the win after scattering three hits with one run allowed over three innings in relief.
- Phillips picked up his team-leading third save after tossing a scoreless ninth.
- Adams, Corsentino and Phillips held OU hitless with two outs (0-for-7).
- K-State hit .308 with two outs and .313 with runners on base.
- The Sooners hit .333 with runners on base and .375 with runners in scoring position.
- Oklahoma leads the all-time series 204-83-1 (52-23 Big 12), dating back to 1913.
- K-State is 27-102-1 on the road against the Sooners.
- The Wildcats have hit multiple home runs in a game 20 times this season.
- K-State is now 6-13 in true road games and 6-16 in all games away from home.
- The win snapped a seven-game losing streak in Norman and marked K-State's first road win in league play this season.
- The Cats broke a string of nine consecutive games with an error.
K-State begins a seven-game homestand Tuesday against in-state rival Wichita State at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with radio coverage on News Radio KMAN. Free, live audio is also available at K-StateSports.com/Watch.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Corsentino, Blake (3-4)
L: Michael, Trevin (3-1)
S: Phillips, Dylan (3)
Batting:
2B: Phillips, Dylan 1 ; Heinrich, Jeff 1 ; Mitchell, Justin 2 ; Culpepper, Kaelen 1
HR: Johnson, Dominic 1 ; Nicoloff, Josh 1
RBI: Johnson, Dominic 2 ; Phillips, Dylan 2 ; Nicoloff, Josh 1 ; Mitchell, Justin 1 ; Culpepper, Kaelen 1
SH: Hughes, Dom 2
SF: Phillips, Dylan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Johnson, Dominic 2 ; Nicoloff, Josh 1 ; Heinrich, Jeff 1 ; Mitchell, Justin 2 ; Jones, Brendan 1 ; Culpepper, Kaelen 1
SB: Johnson, Dominic 1
HBP: Johnson, Dominic 1
Batting:
2B: Crooks, Jimmy 2 ; Clark, Wallace 2
HR: Nicklaus, Jackson 1 ; Squires, Brett 1
RBI: Nicklaus, Jackson 2 ; Clark, Wallace 2 ; Squires, Brett 2 ; Horton, Cade 1
SF: Horton, Cade 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nicklaus, Jackson 1 ; Tredaway, Tanner 1 ; Crooks, Jimmy 1 ; Clark, Wallace 2 ; Squires, Brett 1 ; Horton, Cade 1
SB: Nicklaus, Jackson 1
CS: Robertson, Blake 1
HBP: Pettis, Kendall 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
2
1b/rf
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
RHP/DH
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF/LHP
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