Kansas State University Athletics
Wednesday, April 10
Manhattan, Kan.
6 p.m.
Kansas State University
21-10
6
vs
3
Wichita State
19-15
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Wichita State
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
9
1
Kansas State
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
4
X
6
12
1
Four-Run Eighth Caps Wildcats’ Comeback Win
Apr 11, 2024 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The K-State offense broke out with a four-run eighth inning, highlighted by a go-ahead two-run single from Danniel Rivera to complete the home-and-home series sweep of Wichita State, as the Wildcats won 6-3 Wednesday night at Tointon Family Stadium.
"Really good atmosphere, I thought that game was great for college baseball in our state and region," said head coach Pete Hughes. "It's what it's all about. There's nothing more enjoyable as a coach than watching your kids execute under pressure and in late-game situations. We did a phenomenal job doing that in the eighth inning."
K-State (21-10), which captured an 8-6 victory over the Shockers on March 19, climbed out of an early three-run hole with six unanswered runs to put away its seventh consecutive non-conference victory. The win also marks the Wildcats' 10th come-from-behind win of the season.
The Wildcat bullpen slammed the door shut on the Shockers' offense (19-15), as three relief pitchers combined for six shutout innings led by a season-long four innings from JJ Slack. The left-handed transfer from Liberty, Texas, scattered just three hits in his four innings of work in relief of starter Mason Buss.
"I can't say enough about JJ Slack coming in and neutralizing a hot offense. He hasn't had the opportunities he wanted this year, so he kept working at his craft. We never stop evaluating as a staff, and he's gotten better and better which warranted a great opportunity for him tonight," commented Hughes on Slack's performance.
In just his third outing of the season, Slack retired 11 of 14 batters he faced that included three 1-2-3 innings with a season-high four strikeouts.
"It couldn't have gone any better for him and thankfully for our team, but like I said, a lot of kids came up in big spots and executed under pressure and that's what it's all about."
Jacob Frost (3-1) collected the victory, throwing a shutout inning in relief, while Jackson Wentworth earned his sixth save of the season, which ranks second in the Big 12.
Seven different players produced a hit in the win led by Brady Day. The Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List honoree went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored to turn in his 15th multi-hit effort of the season. Kaelen Culpepper and Jaden Parsons each tallied a pair of hits, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.
Brady Hamilton (1-3) was credited with the loss, after surrendering two runs (one earned) on three hits in the eighth inning while four Shockers had two-hit days.
THE RUNDOWN
Wichita State scored three runs over a two-inning span, led by a two-run third with the help of an RBI double by Dayvin Johnson.
Slack relieved Buss in the fourth, inheriting a runner on first with no outs. After allowing a single to the first batter he faced, Slack retired seven straight batters to keep K-State in the game.
Held to just two hits through three innings, K-State doubled its hit count in the fourth as the Cats used a pair of singles by Day and Parsons to bring the score within one, 3-2.
After three scoreless innings, the Wildcats broke out with a four-run eighth inning led off with a bunt single by Day until the Hampstead, N.H., product advanced to third on a wild pitch and single by Culpepper. K-State took advantage of a fielding error to the shortstop to score the tying-run before Parsons laid down his third bunt single of the year to load the bases.
With no outs and the bases jammed, Wichita State made its third call to the bullpen of the inning while the Wildcats placed Rivera into the pinch-hit situation.
Rivera laced a 2-2 pitch into left field to score Culpepper from third and Nick English from second to get the go-ahead 5-3 lead. Parsons would score on a fly ball in foul territory to nail the final run to the board.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
K-State will hit the road to take on Oklahoma (18-14, 8-4 Big 12) in the final Big 12 series between the two schools this weekend in Norman. The series gets underway Friday at 6:30 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Big 12 series 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.
"Really good atmosphere, I thought that game was great for college baseball in our state and region," said head coach Pete Hughes. "It's what it's all about. There's nothing more enjoyable as a coach than watching your kids execute under pressure and in late-game situations. We did a phenomenal job doing that in the eighth inning."
K-State (21-10), which captured an 8-6 victory over the Shockers on March 19, climbed out of an early three-run hole with six unanswered runs to put away its seventh consecutive non-conference victory. The win also marks the Wildcats' 10th come-from-behind win of the season.
The Wildcat bullpen slammed the door shut on the Shockers' offense (19-15), as three relief pitchers combined for six shutout innings led by a season-long four innings from JJ Slack. The left-handed transfer from Liberty, Texas, scattered just three hits in his four innings of work in relief of starter Mason Buss.
"I can't say enough about JJ Slack coming in and neutralizing a hot offense. He hasn't had the opportunities he wanted this year, so he kept working at his craft. We never stop evaluating as a staff, and he's gotten better and better which warranted a great opportunity for him tonight," commented Hughes on Slack's performance.
In just his third outing of the season, Slack retired 11 of 14 batters he faced that included three 1-2-3 innings with a season-high four strikeouts.
"It couldn't have gone any better for him and thankfully for our team, but like I said, a lot of kids came up in big spots and executed under pressure and that's what it's all about."
Jacob Frost (3-1) collected the victory, throwing a shutout inning in relief, while Jackson Wentworth earned his sixth save of the season, which ranks second in the Big 12.
Seven different players produced a hit in the win led by Brady Day. The Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List honoree went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored to turn in his 15th multi-hit effort of the season. Kaelen Culpepper and Jaden Parsons each tallied a pair of hits, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.
Brady Hamilton (1-3) was credited with the loss, after surrendering two runs (one earned) on three hits in the eighth inning while four Shockers had two-hit days.
THE RUNDOWN
Wichita State scored three runs over a two-inning span, led by a two-run third with the help of an RBI double by Dayvin Johnson.
Slack relieved Buss in the fourth, inheriting a runner on first with no outs. After allowing a single to the first batter he faced, Slack retired seven straight batters to keep K-State in the game.
Held to just two hits through three innings, K-State doubled its hit count in the fourth as the Cats used a pair of singles by Day and Parsons to bring the score within one, 3-2.
After three scoreless innings, the Wildcats broke out with a four-run eighth inning led off with a bunt single by Day until the Hampstead, N.H., product advanced to third on a wild pitch and single by Culpepper. K-State took advantage of a fielding error to the shortstop to score the tying-run before Parsons laid down his third bunt single of the year to load the bases.
With no outs and the bases jammed, Wichita State made its third call to the bullpen of the inning while the Wildcats placed Rivera into the pinch-hit situation.
Rivera laced a 2-2 pitch into left field to score Culpepper from third and Nick English from second to get the go-ahead 5-3 lead. Parsons would score on a fly ball in foul territory to nail the final run to the board.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State scored six runs on 12 hits, committed one error, and stranded five men on base.
- Wichita State scored three runs on nine hits with one error and left seven runners on base.
- The Wildcats scored four unanswered runs in the eighth.
- Three players produced multiple hits in the victory (Day, Culpepper, Parsons)
- Day went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored.
- Rivera plated the game-winning run with his two-run single in the eighth.
- Day and Parsons each bunted for a single.
- Frost (3-1) picked up the win, allowing one hit in his scoreless inning in relief.
- Slack had a season-long four inning outing with four strikeouts.
- Wentworth picked up his sixth save of the season – ranks second in the Big 12.
- Hamilton (1-3) received the loss, surrendering two runs (one earned) on one hit.
- K-State went 8-for-20 (.400) with runners on base and hit .385 (5-for-13) with runners in scoring position while Wichita State hit .250 (4-for-16) with men on base and were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
- The Wildcats were 5-for-11 (.455) with two outs, Shockers were 0-for-8.
- The win marked the first home-and-home series sweep over the shockers since 2022.
- K-State leads the series 27-19 in games played in Manhattan against the Shockers, while Wichita State leads the all-time series 58-45.
- The Wildcats have an overall record of 14-5 in non-conference games, including a current seven-game winning streak against non-con foes.
- K-State picked up its 10th come-from-behind win of the season.
- Hughes improves to 5-5 against the Shockers.
- With his three hits, Day took the lead in multi-hit games this year (15).
K-State will hit the road to take on Oklahoma (18-14, 8-4 Big 12) in the final Big 12 series between the two schools this weekend in Norman. The series gets underway Friday at 6:30 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Big 12 series 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: Frost, Jacob (3-1)
L: Hamilton, Brady (1-3)
S: Wentworth, Jackson (6)
Batting:
2B: Johnson, Dayvin 1
RBI: Durnin, Kam 1 ; Johnson, Dayvin 1 ; Johnson, Camden 1
SF: Johnson, Camden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Haworth, Lane 1 ; Durnin, Kam 1 ; Gustafson, Jaden 1
SB: Haworth, Lane 1
HBP: Rogers, Jordan 1
Batting:
2B: Jones, Brendan 1
RBI: Culpepper, Kaelen 1 ; English, Nick 1 ; Parsons, Jaden 1 ; Rivera, Danniel 2 ; Bishop, David 1
SH: Pelletier, Raphael 1
SF: Bishop, David 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Brendan 1 ; Day, Brady 2 ; Culpepper, Kaelen 1 ; English, Nick 1 ; Parsons, Jaden 1
CS: Culpepper, Kaelen 1 ; Parsons, Jaden 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
C/OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
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