Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, May 14
Manhattan, Kan.
4 p.m.
Kansas State University
26-23, 7-13
7
vs
5
Baylor
24-23, 6-14
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Baylor
0
0
0
2
3
0
0
0
0
5
7
0
K-State
2
3
0
0
0
0
2
0
X
7
14
2
Corsentino, Mitchell Help Cats Even Series
May 14, 2022 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – A two-out, two-run single from Justin Mitchell in the seventh inning proved to be the game-winner Saturday, helping K-State to a 7-5 victory over Baylor to even its weekend series at Tointon Family Stadium.
With the game tied at 5 in the bottom of the seventh, Mitchell fell behind 0-2 as Nick Goodwin and Cole Johnson stood at second and third, respectively, representing the go-ahead runs. K-State's senior catcher then took a 1-2 pitch the other way to right field that allowed both baserunners to sprint home.
"I'm just glad I stuck with my approach," Mitchell said. "I just tried to compete. I got beat (earlier) on fastballs up a lot and just did everything in my power to compete and win that pitch, and I did."
Mitchell, who earlier homered to help K-State (26-23, 7-13 Big 12) build a 5-0 lead, finished the day 2-for-4 with three RBI. The Wildcats scored five runs over the day's first two innings, chasing Baylor starting pitcher Kobe Andrade after just 1 1/3 innings.
"Good win, grinder win," said head coach Pete Hughes. "Good start, you knock (Andrade) out in the second inning after a disappointing loss is a great thing, it tells you your mind is in the right place. German (Fajardo) was outstanding early to let us get settled in. (Blake) Corsentino was the storyline of the game; he came in and settled things down and stopped the momentum from the other side."
Blake Corsentino came into the game with the bases loaded and two out in the fifth, after K-State's five-run lead evaporated behind a two-run home run from Jared McKenzie in the fourth and a three-run shot from Tre Richardson in the fifth.
Corsentino, who lifted starter German Fajardo, forced Cam Caley to ground out to end the threat and keep the score level. The 6-foot-4 right-hander went on to log 3 1/3 scoreless innings, scattering two hits to earn the victory.
"Just go in there and throw strikes, compete and trust the defense – just get an out any way possible," Corsentino said of his mindset when he entered the game. "Just keep throwing competitive strikes, not leaving anything over the middle of the plate. Throwing all pitches in the zone is a big thing for me and I think that's something helped me.
"I'm ready for anything out of the bullpen, you've got to be ready for anything. Throwing yesterday, I didn't expect to be stretched out so long today, but it was going well so just kept with it."
"He throws strikes and he's tough. He's not afraid of contact," Hughes said of Corsentino. "He has a high confidence level to attack the zone and let your defense play, locate and make big pitches – he did all those things."
Corsentino pitched into the ninth inning and exited after issuing a leadoff walk to Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo, which brought the possible tying run to the plate.
Dylan Phillips took the mound after moving from his position at first base and immediately forced Jack Pineda to ground into a 6-3 double play on the first pitch. He then got Richardson to ground out to end the ballgame, picking up his team-leading fifth save of the season.
In relief of Fajardo, Corsentino and Phillips combined to hold Baylor (24-23, 6-14 Big 12) scoreless on two hits over the finale 4 1/3 innings.
Fajardo's nine strikeouts were one shy of his career high. Fajardo held the Bears without a hit over his first three innings of work and his line finished with five earned runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings.
At the plate, Phillips doubled twice, including an RBI double in the first inning.
Mitchell launched a solo homer in the second and Jeff Heinrich tacked on a two-RBI single to cap a three-run inning.
Six Wildcats turned in multi-hit efforts, led by three hits from freshman Kaelen Culpepper from the No. 9 spot in the order (3-for-3).
After one hit with runners on base Friday, K-State went 7-for-20 (.350) with men on base Saturday. Additionally, the Wildcat offense was 7-for-14 with two outs.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The first three Wildcats reached in the bottom of the first, capped by an RBI double from Phillips that scored Nicoloff, who led off with a single. Dominic Johnson added a sacrifice fly for a two-run first.
The Cats tacked on three more an inning later, started off by a solo homer from Mitchell. After Culpepper walked and Josh Nicoloff doubled, Heinrich brough them both in with a single to right-center field to cap the three-run inning and extend the lead to 5-0.
Baylor wiped away K-State's five-run lead with a two-run homer by McKenzie in the fourth and a three-run shot from Richardson in the fifth. Following Richardson's home run, the next three Bears reached to load the bases, as McKenzie and Casen Neumann were each hit by a pitch around a Kyle Nevin single.
Corsentino inherited the bases-loaded jam, as he took over for Fajardo with two outs in the fifth. Corsentino forced Caley into an inning-ending groundout to keep the score tied at 5.
K-State put runners on the corners with two outs in the home half of the inning, but were unable to reclaim the lead after Golomb struck out Mitchell.
Mitchell's next at-bat came in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and runners on second and third. After falling behind 0-2, the senior catcher pushed a 1-2 pitch the opposite field for a go-ahead two-run single.
Cardoza-Oquendo drew a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth, bringing the potential tying run to the plate. Phillips then moved from first base to the mound and forced Jack Pineda to ground into a 6-3 double play before getting Richardson to ground out to second to end the ballgame.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
UP NEXT
Sunday's series finale will mark Senior Day, as K-State will recognize its senior class prior to the 1 p.m. contest. 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.
With the game tied at 5 in the bottom of the seventh, Mitchell fell behind 0-2 as Nick Goodwin and Cole Johnson stood at second and third, respectively, representing the go-ahead runs. K-State's senior catcher then took a 1-2 pitch the other way to right field that allowed both baserunners to sprint home.
"I'm just glad I stuck with my approach," Mitchell said. "I just tried to compete. I got beat (earlier) on fastballs up a lot and just did everything in my power to compete and win that pitch, and I did."
Mitchell, who earlier homered to help K-State (26-23, 7-13 Big 12) build a 5-0 lead, finished the day 2-for-4 with three RBI. The Wildcats scored five runs over the day's first two innings, chasing Baylor starting pitcher Kobe Andrade after just 1 1/3 innings.
"Good win, grinder win," said head coach Pete Hughes. "Good start, you knock (Andrade) out in the second inning after a disappointing loss is a great thing, it tells you your mind is in the right place. German (Fajardo) was outstanding early to let us get settled in. (Blake) Corsentino was the storyline of the game; he came in and settled things down and stopped the momentum from the other side."
Blake Corsentino came into the game with the bases loaded and two out in the fifth, after K-State's five-run lead evaporated behind a two-run home run from Jared McKenzie in the fourth and a three-run shot from Tre Richardson in the fifth.
Corsentino, who lifted starter German Fajardo, forced Cam Caley to ground out to end the threat and keep the score level. The 6-foot-4 right-hander went on to log 3 1/3 scoreless innings, scattering two hits to earn the victory.
"Just go in there and throw strikes, compete and trust the defense – just get an out any way possible," Corsentino said of his mindset when he entered the game. "Just keep throwing competitive strikes, not leaving anything over the middle of the plate. Throwing all pitches in the zone is a big thing for me and I think that's something helped me.
"I'm ready for anything out of the bullpen, you've got to be ready for anything. Throwing yesterday, I didn't expect to be stretched out so long today, but it was going well so just kept with it."
"He throws strikes and he's tough. He's not afraid of contact," Hughes said of Corsentino. "He has a high confidence level to attack the zone and let your defense play, locate and make big pitches – he did all those things."
Corsentino pitched into the ninth inning and exited after issuing a leadoff walk to Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo, which brought the possible tying run to the plate.
Dylan Phillips took the mound after moving from his position at first base and immediately forced Jack Pineda to ground into a 6-3 double play on the first pitch. He then got Richardson to ground out to end the ballgame, picking up his team-leading fifth save of the season.
In relief of Fajardo, Corsentino and Phillips combined to hold Baylor (24-23, 6-14 Big 12) scoreless on two hits over the finale 4 1/3 innings.
Fajardo's nine strikeouts were one shy of his career high. Fajardo held the Bears without a hit over his first three innings of work and his line finished with five earned runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings.
At the plate, Phillips doubled twice, including an RBI double in the first inning.
Mitchell launched a solo homer in the second and Jeff Heinrich tacked on a two-RBI single to cap a three-run inning.
Six Wildcats turned in multi-hit efforts, led by three hits from freshman Kaelen Culpepper from the No. 9 spot in the order (3-for-3).
After one hit with runners on base Friday, K-State went 7-for-20 (.350) with men on base Saturday. Additionally, the Wildcat offense was 7-for-14 with two outs.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The first three Wildcats reached in the bottom of the first, capped by an RBI double from Phillips that scored Nicoloff, who led off with a single. Dominic Johnson added a sacrifice fly for a two-run first.
The Cats tacked on three more an inning later, started off by a solo homer from Mitchell. After Culpepper walked and Josh Nicoloff doubled, Heinrich brough them both in with a single to right-center field to cap the three-run inning and extend the lead to 5-0.
Baylor wiped away K-State's five-run lead with a two-run homer by McKenzie in the fourth and a three-run shot from Richardson in the fifth. Following Richardson's home run, the next three Bears reached to load the bases, as McKenzie and Casen Neumann were each hit by a pitch around a Kyle Nevin single.
Corsentino inherited the bases-loaded jam, as he took over for Fajardo with two outs in the fifth. Corsentino forced Caley into an inning-ending groundout to keep the score tied at 5.
K-State put runners on the corners with two outs in the home half of the inning, but were unable to reclaim the lead after Golomb struck out Mitchell.
Mitchell's next at-bat came in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and runners on second and third. After falling behind 0-2, the senior catcher pushed a 1-2 pitch the opposite field for a go-ahead two-run single.
Cardoza-Oquendo drew a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth, bringing the potential tying run to the plate. Phillips then moved from first base to the mound and forced Jack Pineda to ground into a 6-3 double play before getting Richardson to ground out to second to end the ballgame.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State scored seven runs on 14 hits with two errors and left 10 on base.
- Baylor scored five runs on seven hits, committed no errors and stranded six baserunners.
- Six Wildcats turned in multi-hit games, led by three hits from Culpepper.
- Mitchell homered and drove in three runs, including a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh.
- Phillips doubled twice while Nicoloff and Rugely each doubled.
- Heinrich was 2-for-3 with two RBI.
- Rugely went 2-for-4 in his first start since April 9 at Texas Tech.
- Fajardo's nine stirkeouts were one shy of his season high.
- Corsentino logged 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits and a walk.
- Phillips picked up his team-high fifth save after tossing a perfect ninth inning.
- Richardson paced the Baylor offense with three hits (3-for-5) and three RBI.
- McKenzie and Richardson each homered for the Bears, which accounted for all five BU runs.
- Andrade lasted just 1 1/3 innings in the start, allowing five earned runs on five hits.
- K-State hit .500 (7-for-14) with two outs and .300 (3-for-10) with runners in scoring position.
- Baylor was 2-for-10 with two outs and 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
- Baylor leads the all-time series 53-31 (49-25 Big 12), dating back to 1966.
- K-State is 16-19 at home against the Bears.
- The teams have alternated wins over the last eight games in the series.
- The Cats are now 20-7 at home and have won 11 of the last 15 at Tointon Family Stadium.
- K-State has reached 20 home wins for the second straight year (last time with consecutive 20-win seasons at home was 2009-11).
- K-State now has 76 home runs on the season, the second-most in a single season in program history.
- The Wildcats have homered in five straight games and in seven of their last eight overall.
- Fifty-eight of K-State's 76 home runs have come at home.
- Each of the Cats' last seven games have been decided by three runs or fewer (six have been two-run contests).
UP NEXT
Sunday's series finale will mark Senior Day, as K-State will recognize its senior class prior to the 1 p.m. contest. 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: Corsentino, Blake (4-5)
L: Marriott, Mason (0-1)
S: Phillips, Dylan (5)
Batting:
HR: Richardson, Tre 1 ; McKenzie, Jared 1
RBI: Richardson, Tre 3 ; McKenzie, Jared 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Richardson, Tre 2 ; McKenzie, Jared 1 ; Schoenvogel, Jacob 1 ; Cardoza-Oquendo, E. 1
SB: Richardson, Tre 1
HBP: McKenzie, Jared 1 ; Neumann, Casen 2
Batting:
2B: Nicoloff, Josh 1 ; Phillips, Dylan 2 ; Rugely, Cash 1
HR: Mitchell, Justin 1
RBI: Heinrich, Jeff 2 ; Phillips, Dylan 1 ; Johnson, Dominic 1 ; Mitchell, Justin 3
SF: Johnson, Dominic 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nicoloff, Josh 2 ; Heinrich, Jeff 1 ; Goodwin, Nick 1 ; Johnson, Cole 1 ; Mitchell, Justin 1 ; Culpepper, Kaelen 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
2b/1b
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
1b/p
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballOF/LHP
/ BaseballK-State BSB | Postgame Press Conference vs Texas
Sunday, June 01
K-State Baseball | Game Highlights vs Houston Christian (Austin Regional)
Sunday, June 01
K-State BSB | Game Highlights vs Houston Christian (Austin Regional)
Saturday, May 31
K-State BSB | Postgame Press Conference vs Houston Christian
Saturday, May 31