Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, March 11
Manhattan, KS
4 p.m.
Kansas State University
10-5
9
vs
6
Youngstown State
3-12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Youngstown State
0
0
0
4
1
0
0
1
0
6
12
1
Kansas State
2
0
0
3
3
0
1
0
X
9
7
2
Cats Win Sixth Straight to Clinch Weekend Series
Mar 11, 2023 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The K-State Wildcats grabbed their sixth straight victory after defeating Youngstown State, 9-6, to clinch the weekend series at Tointon Family Stadium on Saturday.
"It was a good effort by our guys tonight, playing through tough conditions all around," said head coach Pete Hughes. "I thought we played pretty well and had productive innings majority of the time."
K-State (10-5) remains undefeated at home after turning a 4-2 deficit into a one-run lead with a fourth inning two-run homer by Brendan Jones before the Wildcats plated three runs in the fifth to secure the victory.
"Shay Hartis, as usual, was the guy who settled the game down and allowed our offense to run efficiently. From here on out, it's about winning series'."
Shay Hartis earned the win on the mound after tossing 3 2/3 innings in his seventh outing of the season. The junior from The Colony, Texas allowed just one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts. Tyson Neighbors collected his first save of the season after allowing just one earned run with two hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Wentworth retired the top of the lineup in order, K-State tabbed two runs to the board in the bottom of the first. Cash Rugely drove in the leadoff batter with a triple into right center before coming around on a wild pitch.
The Penguins broke away with a 4-2 lead in the fourth frame after stringing together four consecutive hits. Hartis relieved Wentworth before the right-hander forced two straight outs to keep the game within two.
Cole Johnson ignited a fire in the Cats offense as the Southlake, Texas product singled out to right before stealing 90-feet to move into scoring position. Designated hitter Kyan Lodice grounded out to second to move Johnson over before a sac fly by Roberto Pena cut the Penguins lead to one.
The Cats took back the lead just two batters later as Brendan Jones blasted a two-run homer over the right field wall to give K-State the 5-4 lead.
YSU leveled the score in the top of the fifth with a base hit into center, but Hartis struck out the final batter to end the threat leaving runners on first and third.
Penguins' reliever Trey Pancake entered the game in the fifth with the Cats quickly landing a runner on first with a leadoff single by Brady Day. The sophomore second baseman dove safely into home to beat out the throw on a wild pitch for the go-ahead run.
With runners on second and third, Orlando Salinas, Jr. hit a shot down the right field line to extend the Cats lead out to three in the fifth. Lodice ended the Wildcats scoring in the seventh after crossing the plate on a throwing error from the shortstop.
INSIDE THE BOX
The series finale is set for Sunday morning with first pitch slated for 10:02 a.m. at Tointon Family Stadium. Sunday's game will be broadcasted on the Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with a free live audio is available at kstatesports.com/watch.
Following the series against Youngstown State, K-State will head back to Omaha to take on Creighton (6-5) before opening Big 12 play at Baylor on March 17-19 in Waco.
"It was a good effort by our guys tonight, playing through tough conditions all around," said head coach Pete Hughes. "I thought we played pretty well and had productive innings majority of the time."
K-State (10-5) remains undefeated at home after turning a 4-2 deficit into a one-run lead with a fourth inning two-run homer by Brendan Jones before the Wildcats plated three runs in the fifth to secure the victory.
"Shay Hartis, as usual, was the guy who settled the game down and allowed our offense to run efficiently. From here on out, it's about winning series'."
Shay Hartis earned the win on the mound after tossing 3 2/3 innings in his seventh outing of the season. The junior from The Colony, Texas allowed just one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts. Tyson Neighbors collected his first save of the season after allowing just one earned run with two hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Wentworth retired the top of the lineup in order, K-State tabbed two runs to the board in the bottom of the first. Cash Rugely drove in the leadoff batter with a triple into right center before coming around on a wild pitch.
The Penguins broke away with a 4-2 lead in the fourth frame after stringing together four consecutive hits. Hartis relieved Wentworth before the right-hander forced two straight outs to keep the game within two.
Cole Johnson ignited a fire in the Cats offense as the Southlake, Texas product singled out to right before stealing 90-feet to move into scoring position. Designated hitter Kyan Lodice grounded out to second to move Johnson over before a sac fly by Roberto Pena cut the Penguins lead to one.
The Cats took back the lead just two batters later as Brendan Jones blasted a two-run homer over the right field wall to give K-State the 5-4 lead.
YSU leveled the score in the top of the fifth with a base hit into center, but Hartis struck out the final batter to end the threat leaving runners on first and third.
Penguins' reliever Trey Pancake entered the game in the fifth with the Cats quickly landing a runner on first with a leadoff single by Brady Day. The sophomore second baseman dove safely into home to beat out the throw on a wild pitch for the go-ahead run.
With runners on second and third, Orlando Salinas, Jr. hit a shot down the right field line to extend the Cats lead out to three in the fifth. Lodice ended the Wildcats scoring in the seventh after crossing the plate on a throwing error from the shortstop.
INSIDE THE BOX
- K-State scored nine runs on seven hits with two errors and 12 left on base
- Wildcats pitching staff allowed six runs on 12 hits with 10 strikeouts, two walks and one wild pitch
- Jones hit a home run for the second consecutive day; second career home run
- Jackson Wentworth earned the start tossing 3 1/3 innings with four runs on six hits
- Longest win streak since 2022 with seven (March 9-March 20)
- Pete Hughes earned his 760th career victory; moves to 760-589-3 overall and 108-97 at K-State
The series finale is set for Sunday morning with first pitch slated for 10:02 a.m. at Tointon Family Stadium. Sunday's game will be broadcasted on the Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with a free live audio is available at kstatesports.com/watch.
Following the series against Youngstown State, K-State will head back to Omaha to take on Creighton (6-5) before opening Big 12 play at Baylor on March 17-19 in Waco.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hartis, Shay (2-0)
L: PANCAKE, Trey (0-1)
S: Neighbors, Tyson (1)
Batting:
2B: D'EUSANIO, Steven 1 ; O'SHAUGHNESSY, Padr. 1
RBI: O'SHAUGHNESSY, Padr. 1 ; THOMPSON, Matt 1 ; SAUCEDO, Eddie 2 ; BROWN, Eli 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LAW, Trey 1 ; D'EUSANIO, Steven 1 ; O'SHAUGHNESSY, Padr. 1 ; THOMPSON, Matt 2 ; GOOD, Andre 1
CS: LAW, Trey 1
Batting:
2B: Salinas, Jr., Orlando 1
3B: Rugely, Cash 1
HR: Jones, Brendan 1
RBI: Jones, Brendan 2 ; Rugely, Cash 1 ; Pena, Roberto 1 ; Salinas, Jr., Orlando 2
SF: Pena, Roberto 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Brendan 2 ; Rugely, Cash 1 ; Day, Brady 1 ; Pelletier, Raphael 1 ; Johnson, Cole 1 ; Lodice, Kyan 2 ; Salinas, Jr., Orlando 1
SB: Jones, Brendan 1 ; Day, Brady 1 ; Goodwin, Nick 2 ; Johnson, Cole 1 ; Lodice, Kyan 2 ; Salinas, Jr., Orlando 1
HBP: Day, Brady 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF/OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ 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