Kansas State University Athletics
Monday, March 6
Manhattan, KS
4 p.m.
Kansas State University
8-5
6
vs
5
Stonehill
1-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Stonehill
4
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
5
10
3
K-State
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
2
1
6
7
1
Cats Defeat Stonehill in Walk-Off Fashion
Mar 06, 2023 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Senior Cole Johnson laced a single into center field to bring home Kyan Lodice for the game-winning run to give K-State a walk-off 6-5 victory over Stonehill at Tointon Family Stadium on Monday.
"One of the best qualities of this team is their ability to come back," head coach Pete Hughes stated. "You're never out of a game because they don't panic, and they stay with the process."
The Wildcats (8-5) rallied to tie the game to erase a five-run deficit behind a masterful performance of right-hander Tyson Neighbors who struck out seven of the final 10 batters.
"When you have Tyson Neighbors coming out of your bullpen it gives you a chance to win, build, and get back in the game," said Hughes.
"Three and a third innings with seven strikeouts, that's as dominating as it gets. He took all the momentum and put it in our dugout."
HOW IT HAPPENED
K-State fell behind in the opening frame as the Skyhawks plated four runs off five hits highlighted by Trey Ciulla-Hall's two-run homer out to left to lead off scoring.
Dom Hughes ended the no-hitter in the third with a single into right before stealing 90-feet to move into scoring position. Stonehill walked the next batter to bring Nick Goodwin to the plate, but the junior grounded to short for the classic 6-4-3 double play to preserve the shutout.
Momentum stayed in favor of the Skyhawks when Taylor Gaspar led off with a single into right until a fielding error moved runners to second and third. Stonehill used the small ball game to load the bases before a run was scored on the Cats own double play.
After six scoreless innings, K-State jumped on the board after capitalizing on a failed pickoff attempt at third to bring home Johnson after the senior reached on a single into right. Two straight walks loaded the bases until Cash Rugely hit to the Skyhawks' third baseman who was unable to come up with the diving play to bring in the Wildcats second run. The Cats plated their third run on a wild pitch to make it a two-run ball game, 5-3.
Neighbors kept the game within two in the top of the eighth as the sophomore struck out the Skyhawks in order to bring the Cats back to the plate.
Roberto Pena took a pitch off the shoulder to reach first before coming around on a single by Hughes to pull within one. The Cats took advantage of a fielding error in right to level the score at 5-all heading into the ninth.
The Cats set down the Skyhawks in order in the final inning with Neighbors striking out the final batter.
With one out, Raphael Pelletier singled up the middle until a walk and wild pitch positioned pinch runner Kyan Lodice on third. The Skyhawks intentionally walked the seventh hole to bring Johnson up to the plate with bases loaded and one out. The Southlake, Texas product fought his way to a 3-2 count before squaring up a single into center field avoiding the diving efforts of Braden Golinski to drive in the winning run.
INSIDE THE BOX
The Cats will return to Tointon Family Stadium on March 10-12 when they welcome Youngstown State (3-9, 0-0 Horizon). The three-game series can be seen on the Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with radio coverage on KMAN (93.3 FM/1350AM). A free live audio is available at kstatesports.com/watch.
"One of the best qualities of this team is their ability to come back," head coach Pete Hughes stated. "You're never out of a game because they don't panic, and they stay with the process."
The Wildcats (8-5) rallied to tie the game to erase a five-run deficit behind a masterful performance of right-hander Tyson Neighbors who struck out seven of the final 10 batters.
"When you have Tyson Neighbors coming out of your bullpen it gives you a chance to win, build, and get back in the game," said Hughes.
"Three and a third innings with seven strikeouts, that's as dominating as it gets. He took all the momentum and put it in our dugout."
HOW IT HAPPENED
K-State fell behind in the opening frame as the Skyhawks plated four runs off five hits highlighted by Trey Ciulla-Hall's two-run homer out to left to lead off scoring.
Dom Hughes ended the no-hitter in the third with a single into right before stealing 90-feet to move into scoring position. Stonehill walked the next batter to bring Nick Goodwin to the plate, but the junior grounded to short for the classic 6-4-3 double play to preserve the shutout.
Momentum stayed in favor of the Skyhawks when Taylor Gaspar led off with a single into right until a fielding error moved runners to second and third. Stonehill used the small ball game to load the bases before a run was scored on the Cats own double play.
After six scoreless innings, K-State jumped on the board after capitalizing on a failed pickoff attempt at third to bring home Johnson after the senior reached on a single into right. Two straight walks loaded the bases until Cash Rugely hit to the Skyhawks' third baseman who was unable to come up with the diving play to bring in the Wildcats second run. The Cats plated their third run on a wild pitch to make it a two-run ball game, 5-3.
Neighbors kept the game within two in the top of the eighth as the sophomore struck out the Skyhawks in order to bring the Cats back to the plate.
Roberto Pena took a pitch off the shoulder to reach first before coming around on a single by Hughes to pull within one. The Cats took advantage of a fielding error in right to level the score at 5-all heading into the ninth.
The Cats set down the Skyhawks in order in the final inning with Neighbors striking out the final batter.
With one out, Raphael Pelletier singled up the middle until a walk and wild pitch positioned pinch runner Kyan Lodice on third. The Skyhawks intentionally walked the seventh hole to bring Johnson up to the plate with bases loaded and one out. The Southlake, Texas product fought his way to a 3-2 count before squaring up a single into center field avoiding the diving efforts of Braden Golinski to drive in the winning run.
INSIDE THE BOX
- K-State scored six runs (two earned) on seven hits with 10 walks and 10 left on base
- Three Cats had multiple hits each with an RBI
- Hughes went 2-for-2 with two runs and two walks
- The pitching staff allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits with 12 strikeouts
- First walk-off victory since May 22, 2021 with Chris Ceballos three-run homer against TCU (11-8)
- K-State leads the all-time series 2-0 with both wins coming in Manhattan
- The Wildcats are just one-of-three teams from the Big 12 to reach eight wins
- Fourth time this season Cats had double figure walks
- Neighbors struck out a career-high seven batters; surpassed previous career best by two
The Cats will return to Tointon Family Stadium on March 10-12 when they welcome Youngstown State (3-9, 0-0 Horizon). The three-game series can be seen on the Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with radio coverage on KMAN (93.3 FM/1350AM). A free live audio is available at kstatesports.com/watch.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Neighbors, Tyson (2-1)
L: Ryan Douglas (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Chris Roberti 1 ; Ryan Douglas 1
HR: Trey Ciulla-Hall 1
RBI: Trey Ciulla-Hall 2 ; Ryan Douglas 2
SH: Conor Kiely 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sam Parks 1 ; Trey Ciulla-Hall 1 ; Jack Marshall 1 ; Chris Roberti 1 ; Taylor Gaspar 1
CS: Conor Kiely 1
HBP: Dylan Zemotel 1
Batting:
RBI: Rugely, Cash 1 ; Johnson, Cole 1 ; Hughes, Dom 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Goodwin, Nick 1 ; Lodice, Kyan 1 ; Pena, Roberto 1 ; Johnson, Cole 1 ; Hughes, Dom 2
SB: Johnson, Cole 2 ; Hughes, Dom 1
CS: Johnson, Cole 1
HBP: Jones, Brendan 1 ; Goodwin, Nick 1 ; Pena, Roberto 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
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/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF/OF
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