Kansas State University Athletics
Wednesday, April 3
Springfield, Mo.
4 p.m.
Kansas State University
19-8
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Missouri State
11-16
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Kansas State
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Missouri State
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Culpepper Drives in Four, Wildcats Top Bears Wednesday
Apr 03, 2024 | Baseball
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Junior shortstop Kaelen Culpepper drove in a season-high four runs, as K-State picked up an 8-4 victory over Missouri State at Hammons Field on a chilly Wednesday afternoon to complete the season series sweep.
"Really happy with today's effort," head coach Pete Hughes said. "It's hard to truly travel in the midweek and play effectively, especially when the conditions aren't ideal to play in. However, nothing was a distraction for our guys, our energy and our performance tonight."
In a game that was originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and was moved due to cold temperatures, K-State (19-8) jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead until Missouri State (11-16) used a three-run sixth to close the gap to one. The Wildcats immediately responded with three unanswered runs in the seventh led by Culpepper's 22nd career home run to put the game away.
"Kaelan was awesome and carried us today offensively with some really mature at bats," said Hughes.
Culpepper, who was a short a double of hitting the cycle, finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and a walk. The preseason all-American registered the biggest hit of the game in the second with a two-out, two-run single.
"Solid job by our pitching staff. Jackson Wentworth, Mason Buss, and Tyson Neighbors were awesome at the end. Blake Dean was able to open up and pitch really well in the starter role."
Eight pitchers made an appearance on the mound in the midweek with Dean earning the win in his first collegiate start (2-2). The true freshman from Acworth, Ga., scattered just one hit in his two innings of work, as he retired six of the seven batters he faced.
Wentworth, Buss, and Neighbors shut out the Bears in the final 3 2/3 innings and combined for eight of the Wildcats 11 strikeouts. Neighbors used 17 pitches to strike out the side and close the game, as all three strikeouts were looking.
The Wildcats drove in four two-out RBI in the win and stole a season-high eight bases to bring the season total to a league-high 72.
THE RUNDOWN
The Wildcats plated two runs in the opening frame, scoring on a wild pitch and single into right by true freshman Nick English.
Culpepper drove in the Wildcats' next three runs with his two-run single in the second inning and triple in the fourth. The Memphis, Tenn., product roped a 3-2 pitch into center field to score Raphael Pelletier and Brady after the duo reached on an error and walk.
Missouri State scored four runs in a three-inning span to close the gap with the Cats leading 5-4 heading into the seventh.
Culpepper belted his seventh homer of the season into opposite field to lead off the Cats' three-run seventh to put the game away.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
K-State heads to the Sunshine State for a three-game Big 12 series with Conference newcomer UCF (19-7, 6-6 Big 12). The series will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while radio coverage is available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) and K-State sports Network. 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 happy with today's effort," head coach Pete Hughes said. "It's hard to truly travel in the midweek and play effectively, especially when the conditions aren't ideal to play in. However, nothing was a distraction for our guys, our energy and our performance tonight."
In a game that was originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and was moved due to cold temperatures, K-State (19-8) jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead until Missouri State (11-16) used a three-run sixth to close the gap to one. The Wildcats immediately responded with three unanswered runs in the seventh led by Culpepper's 22nd career home run to put the game away.
"Kaelan was awesome and carried us today offensively with some really mature at bats," said Hughes.
Culpepper, who was a short a double of hitting the cycle, finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and a walk. The preseason all-American registered the biggest hit of the game in the second with a two-out, two-run single.
"Solid job by our pitching staff. Jackson Wentworth, Mason Buss, and Tyson Neighbors were awesome at the end. Blake Dean was able to open up and pitch really well in the starter role."
Eight pitchers made an appearance on the mound in the midweek with Dean earning the win in his first collegiate start (2-2). The true freshman from Acworth, Ga., scattered just one hit in his two innings of work, as he retired six of the seven batters he faced.
Wentworth, Buss, and Neighbors shut out the Bears in the final 3 2/3 innings and combined for eight of the Wildcats 11 strikeouts. Neighbors used 17 pitches to strike out the side and close the game, as all three strikeouts were looking.
The Wildcats drove in four two-out RBI in the win and stole a season-high eight bases to bring the season total to a league-high 72.
THE RUNDOWN
The Wildcats plated two runs in the opening frame, scoring on a wild pitch and single into right by true freshman Nick English.
Culpepper drove in the Wildcats' next three runs with his two-run single in the second inning and triple in the fourth. The Memphis, Tenn., product roped a 3-2 pitch into center field to score Raphael Pelletier and Brady after the duo reached on an error and walk.
Missouri State scored four runs in a three-inning span to close the gap with the Cats leading 5-4 heading into the seventh.
Culpepper belted his seventh homer of the season into opposite field to lead off the Cats' three-run seventh to put the game away.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State plated eight runs on eight hits, committed no errors and stranded 11 on base.
- Missouri State scored four runs on seven hits with one error and left 10 on base.
- K-State stole a season-high eight bases, led by two from Day and Lodice
- Culpepper went 3-for-4 at the plate with a season-high four RBI.
- English and Schwalbach each drove in a run.
- Dean (2-2) was awarded the victory, scattering just one hit in two scoreless innings.
- Culpepper hit his seventh homer of the season.
- K-State hit .154 (2-for-13) with runners in scoring position while Missouri State went 4-for-13 (.308)
- The Cats went 4-for-13 (.308) with two outs, including four two-out RBI.
- K-State completed the four-game season series sweep, leads the all-time series 18-11.
- The Wildcats are 7-4 on the road this season, and 5-3 in true road games.
- Pelletier moved his career-best on-base streak to 30 games, followed by Day at 26.
- Ingram turned in his 13th multi-hit game and Jones his 10th.
- K-State is 16-3 when outhitting opponents.
K-State heads to the Sunshine State for a three-game Big 12 series with Conference newcomer UCF (19-7, 6-6 Big 12). The series will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while radio coverage is available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) and K-State sports Network. 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: Dean, Blake (2-2)
L: Metz,Reed (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Jones, Brendan 1
3B: Culpepper, Kaelen 1
HR: Culpepper, Kaelen 1
RBI: Culpepper, Kaelen 4 ; English, Nick 1 ; Schwalbach, Mason 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Brendan 1 ; Day, Brady 3 ; Culpepper, Kaelen 1 ; Rivera, Danniel 1 ; Parsons, Jaden 1 ; Pelletier, Raphael 1
SB: Jones, Brendan 1 ; Day, Brady 2 ; Culpepper, Kaelen 1 ; English, Nick 1 ; Parsons, Jaden 1 ; Lodice, Kyan 2
CS: Karl, Cadyn 1
HBP: Parsons, Jaden 1
Batting:
2B: Bogenpohl,Caden 1 ; Leach,Dylan 1
RBI: Bogenpohl,Caden 1 ; Rodriguez,Nick 1 ; Chambers,Logan 1 ; Epstein,Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Leach,Dylan 2 ; Chambers,Logan 1 ; Sutherland,Curry 1
SB: Lopez,Izzy 1
HBP: Leach,Dylan 1 ; Sutherland,Curry 1 ; Zareh,William 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
4
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballC/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
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/ Baseball
RHP
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