Kansas State University Athletics
Kansas State University
14-6
Wichita State
13-7
Wildcats’ Sixth-Inning Rally Tops Wichita State, 8-6
Mar 20, 2024 | Baseball
WICHITA, Kan. – A six-run sixth inning, three RBIs by Nick English and three perfect innings on the mound from Jackson Wentworth led K-State to its sixth straight victory, as the Wildcats topped Wichita State, 8-6, at Tyler Field at Eck Stadium Tuesday night.
"Tonight was a really important win for our program, especially to get a win on the road against a team that is playing really good baseball," head coach Pete Hughes said. "It tells you the level of baseball we're playing right now."
K-State (14-6) was held to just three hits and trailed 4-1 until its explosive sixth inning where the Cats plated six runs on five hits to take the 7-4 lead, highlighted by a two-run double by Chuck Ingram to score the game-winning run.
Jackson Wentworth retired all 10 batters he faced in his three innings of work, picking up five strikeouts. The redshirt-sophomore righty collected his fourth save of the season in his 10th appearance.
"He's our go to guy and our guys seem to be a little more comfortable, offensively, when he is in the game because they know they have some time to build a lead, and we absolutely felt that tonight and took advantage of it. He's been unreal and is making it happen," said Hughes.
Mason Buss (2-0) picked up his second consecutive victory in his one inning of relief.
"We had some big nights from Kaelen Culpepper and Nick English. It was also good to see Chuck get a really big hit, coming back to familiar territory."
Four Wildcats produced multiple hits in the win led by Culpepper and English, who each went 3-for-5 at the plate. Brendan Jones and Raphael Pelletier each turned in two-hit days. English drove in a game-high three runs followed by Ingram with two.
Wichita State (13-7) was led offensively by Dayvin Johnson with three hits while two Shockers drove in multiple runs. Caleb Anderson (1-1) suffered the loss, allowing three earned runs on two hits in his 1/3 inning of work.
THE RUNDOWN
The Shockers plated two in the first inning, led by back-to-back doubles from Johnson and Jordan Rogers until a two-run double in the third doubled their lead.
Jones roped a double down the right field line in the fourth to get K-State its first runner in scoring position. With two outs, the Shockers were unable to make the play off a shallow hit to left by English to bring in the Cats first run of the game.
K-State broke it open in the top of the sixth, as Jones and Culpepper pieced together a pair of singles before English laced his second hit of the night into left to cut the Shockers lead in half.
WSU made its first call to the pen where reliever Caleb Anderson drilled the first batter he faced to load the bases. Pelletier singled to the shortstop and Cayden Phillips walked to even the score at 4-all.
A grounder to second by David Bishop handed the Cats their first lead of the game until Ingram doubled off the center field wall in the next at bat to extend the lead to three.
The Shockers scored two in the bottom half of the inning to bring the game back within one, 7-6.
The Cats added an insurance run at the top of the final frame with an RBI single from English.
Wichita State threatened the lead after a throwing error put a runner in scoring position, but Wentworth retired three straight, including punching out the final batter to capture the road victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State scored eight runs on 13 hits with one error committed and left eight on base.
- Wichita State scored six runs on eight hits, committed no errors, and left five runners on base.
- K-State scored six runs in the sixth inning to take control of the game.
- Buss (2-0) picked up the win in relief.
- Wentworth retired 10 straight in the final three innings with five strikeouts to earn his fourth save.
- Culpepper and English each turned in three-hit days, going 3-for-5.
- English drove in a game-high three runs.
- Ingram recorded the game-winning RBI with a two-run double in the sixth.
- K-State hit .333 (5-for-15) with runners in scoring position while WSU went 3-for-15 (.200).
- The Wildcats were 3-for-12 (.250) with two outs and had three two-out RBI. Wichita State was 0-for-8 with two outs.
- Wichita State leads the all-time series 58-45, including 37-18 at Eck Stadium.
- K-State moves to 12-5 in non-conference action.
- The Wildcats are 3-4 on the road, and 1-3 in true road games.
- Hughes improves to 4-5 against the Shockers.
ON DECK
K-State returns to Conference action this weekend with a three-game set with Big 12 newcomer Houston (13-6, 4-2 Big 12), starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Schroeder Park. can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while radio coverage is available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM). A free live streaming audio available for all games at KStateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app.
How to follow the 'Cats: Stay up to date on K-State baseball online at www.kstatesports.com and on the team's social media channels on Facebook, X formally known as Twitter and Instagram.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Buss, Mason (2-0)
L: Anderson, Caleb (1-1)
S: Wentworth, Jackson (4)
Batting:
2B: Ingram, Chuck 1 ; Jones, Brendan 1 ; Culpepper, Kaelen 1 ; English, Nick 1
RBI: Ingram, Chuck 2 ; English, Nick 3 ; Pelletier, Raphael 1 ; Phillips, Cayden 1 ; Bishop, David 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Brendan 2 ; Culpepper, Kaelen 2 ; English, Nick 1 ; Rivera, Danniel 1 ; Pelletier, Raphael 1 ; Bishop, David 1
HBP: Rivera, Danniel 1
Batting:
2B: Johnson, Dayvin 1 ; Rogers, Jordan 2 ; Williams, Derek 1
3B: Stroh, Seth 1
RBI: Rogers, Jordan 1 ; Williams, Derek 2 ; Stroh, Seth 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Johnson, Dayvin 2 ; Rogers, Jordan 2 ; Williams, Derek 1 ; Callahan, Ryan 1
HBP: Williams, Derek 1 ; Callahan, Ryan 1
