Kansas State University Athletics
Sunday, April 2
Manhattan, KS
1 p.m.
Kansas State University
19-11, 0
6
vs
10
West Virginia
21-7, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
West Virginia
0
3
2
1
1
0
0
0
3
10
13
0
Kansas State
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
6
7
1
Pena Homers Twice in Cats Loss to No. 24 West Virginia
Apr 02, 2023 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Senior Roberto Pena recorded his first two-homer game with Kansas State on Sunday afternoon as No. 24 West Virginia defeated the Wildcats, 10-6, at Tointon Family Stadium.
Pena drove in a game-high five RBI and was responsible for two of the Wildcats (19-11, 5-4 Big 12) seven hits. The Caracas, Venezuela product is the third player to belt a pair of homers in a single game this season joining teammates Cole Johnson and Orlando Salinas, Jr.
"He had a great approach today," head coach Pete Hughes said on Pena. "He minimized his plan at the plate and had productive at bats, things just didn't fall our way."
The Mountaineers (21-7, 2-1 Big 12) had 13 hits in the game with seven players registering hits while five had at least two.
"West Virginia played well. We gave them some opportunities, but it didn't seem like things were going to go our way today," said Hughes.
"That's baseball. It can be a cruel game, but at the end of the day you create your own opportunities. We have to score more than in two innings if we want to clinch a series on Sunday so credit to West Virginia."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Mountaineers jumped on the board in the second inning and plated three runs behind a sac fly and Grant Hussey's two-run homer out to right.
Cole Johnson and Cash Rugely answered in the bottom of the inning as the duo strung together consecutive singles to trim the Mountaineers lead to three. With two outs, Pena belted a three-run homer over the left center wall to put the Cats on top, 4-3.
JJ Wetherholt led off the third frame with a double into center before Braden Barry hit his sixth homer of the season to give the Mountaineers back the lead.
WVU continued to expand its lead out to three, 7-4, with a pair of home runs until the Mountaineers scored three runs in the ninth to take the reins.
The Cats climbed back within four runs in the final frame as Pena launched his second homer of the game out to left field but a pair of quick grounders ended the rally.
Robby Porco (3-1) was awarded the victory after tossing 1 1/3 innings in relief with two walks and a strikeout.
Collin Rothermel received the loss in his first outing of the season, giving up five runs (two earned) on four hits.
Jackson Wentworth and Ty Ruhl combined for 6 2/3 innings in relief of Rothermel with eight strikeouts.
INSIDE THE BOX
K-State will host Nebraska (15-9-1, 2-1 Big 10) on Tuesday, April 4 at 6 p.m. at Tointon Family Stadium. The game will be streamed on the Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with radio coverage on KMAN (93.3FM/1350AM) and a free live audio available at kstatesports.com/watch.
Pena drove in a game-high five RBI and was responsible for two of the Wildcats (19-11, 5-4 Big 12) seven hits. The Caracas, Venezuela product is the third player to belt a pair of homers in a single game this season joining teammates Cole Johnson and Orlando Salinas, Jr.
"He had a great approach today," head coach Pete Hughes said on Pena. "He minimized his plan at the plate and had productive at bats, things just didn't fall our way."
The Mountaineers (21-7, 2-1 Big 12) had 13 hits in the game with seven players registering hits while five had at least two.
"West Virginia played well. We gave them some opportunities, but it didn't seem like things were going to go our way today," said Hughes.
"That's baseball. It can be a cruel game, but at the end of the day you create your own opportunities. We have to score more than in two innings if we want to clinch a series on Sunday so credit to West Virginia."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Mountaineers jumped on the board in the second inning and plated three runs behind a sac fly and Grant Hussey's two-run homer out to right.
Cole Johnson and Cash Rugely answered in the bottom of the inning as the duo strung together consecutive singles to trim the Mountaineers lead to three. With two outs, Pena belted a three-run homer over the left center wall to put the Cats on top, 4-3.
JJ Wetherholt led off the third frame with a double into center before Braden Barry hit his sixth homer of the season to give the Mountaineers back the lead.
WVU continued to expand its lead out to three, 7-4, with a pair of home runs until the Mountaineers scored three runs in the ninth to take the reins.
The Cats climbed back within four runs in the final frame as Pena launched his second homer of the game out to left field but a pair of quick grounders ended the rally.
Robby Porco (3-1) was awarded the victory after tossing 1 1/3 innings in relief with two walks and a strikeout.
Collin Rothermel received the loss in his first outing of the season, giving up five runs (two earned) on four hits.
Jackson Wentworth and Ty Ruhl combined for 6 2/3 innings in relief of Rothermel with eight strikeouts.
INSIDE THE BOX
- The Wildcats scored six runs on seven hits with one error and six left on base
- Pena recorded his first multiple home run game
- Rothermel was credited the loss allowing five runs (two earned)
- Six different players recorded a hit
- Pena went 2-for-2 with two homers, two walks and game-high five RBI
- Cats left six on base with three in scoring position
- The bullpen combined for eight strikeouts and five runs (five earned)
- Ruhl struck out a career-high five batters in three innings in relief
- K-State went 3-for-8 (.375) with runners in scoring position the three two-out RBI
- WVU hit .444 with runners in scoring position with four hits
- The Mountaineers lead the all-time series 18-13 and lead 7-3 in last 10 meetings
- Series is tied 9-9 between the two schools
- K-State moves to 12-3 at home and 4-2 in Big 12 play at Tointon
- Jones reached base in the 20th straight game followed by Rugely at 10
- Johnson and Pelletier extended their hit streaks to six
- The Wildcats moved to 5-4 in Big 12 action; ranked fifth in league standings
- Cats and Mountaineers combined for 15 home runs in the series
- K-State hit .229 in the weekend series with 22 hits, including nine homers
- Pena had three homers in the series
- Three players have hit multiple homers in a single game with Johnson, Salinas and Pena
K-State will host Nebraska (15-9-1, 2-1 Big 10) on Tuesday, April 4 at 6 p.m. at Tointon Family Stadium. The game will be streamed on the Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with radio coverage on KMAN (93.3FM/1350AM) and a free live audio available at kstatesports.com/watch.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Porco, Robby (3-1)
L: Rothermel, Collin (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Wetherholt, J.J. 1 ; Hussey, Grant 1
HR: Barry, Braden 1 ; McNeely, Caleb 1 ; Hussey, Grant 1
RBI: Wetherholt, J.J. 1 ; Barry, Braden 3 ; McNeely, Caleb 1 ; Wallace, Landon 2 ; Dowdell, Kevin 1 ; Hussey, Grant 2
SH: Leonard, Dayne 1
SF: Wetherholt, J.J. 1 ; Dowdell, Kevin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wetherholt, J.J. 2 ; Barry, Braden 2 ; McNeely, Caleb 2 ; Wallace, Landon 1 ; Hussey, Grant 2 ; Tucker, Tevin 1
Batting:
HR: Pena, Roberto 2
RBI: Rugely, Cash 1 ; Pena, Roberto 5
Base Running:
RUNS: Culpepper, Kaelen 1 ; Johnson, Cole 1 ; Rugely, Cash 2 ; Pena, Roberto 2
SB: Rugely, Cash 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
5
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF/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