Culpepper Hits for the Cycle in Regional Win

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Junior shortstop Kaelen Culpepper made history Saturday afternoon, as he hit for the cycle in a 19-4 win over Louisiana Tech Saturday morning in continuation of Friday's suspended game at Baum-Walker Stadium, advancing the Cats in the 2024 NCAA Fayetteville Regional.

No. 3 seed K-State (33-24) led No. 2 seed La Tech (45-18) 9-4 leading into the sixth inning, until a lightning strike halted the game and forced a 13-hour game suspension. After the long break, the Cats immediately picked up where they left off, as Jaden Parsons' lead-off dinger ignited an offense that plated 10 runs over three innings to secure the regional win.

Fayetteville Regional is SO BACK!#RoadToOmaha x 🎥 ESPN+ / @KStateBSB pic.twitter.com/7WdMrfN71h
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 1, 2024

"I'm really proud of our guys," said head coach Pete Hughes following his first regional win at K-State. "That's a resilient group of kids to wake up and stay focused. The schedule was changed, and obviously in the morning, it was a really tight schedule. Guys were eating breakfast during batting practice, but our kids were focused, and they came out with energy right from the first at bat that just set the tone."

Culpepper, who was ranked No. 32 in the latest MLB Pipeline draft rankings, became just the fourth player in K-State history to hit for the cycle, joining Ross Kivett (2014), Heath Schesser (1997), and Craig Wilson (1992). The junior from Memphis, Tenn., tripled in the second, singled in the sixth, doubled in the seventh, and homered in his fifth at-bat, to complete the cycle.

Single! Double! Triple! 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐍!

Kaelen Culpepper is the first Wildcat since 2014 to hit for the cycle! #KStateBSB x @thechosen1kc pic.twitter.com/25hEIcH0Jj
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) June 1, 2024

"That was awesome," Hughes commented on Culpepper's cycle. "I didn't even realize what that last at bat had meant, but there is no other kid that deserves to have the success he's had today and moving forward. That was a fun moment to be a part of."

Let's add to that...@thechosen1kc is only the FOURTH player in school HISTORY to hit for the cycle #KStateBSB https://t.co/mgaSnvKq8q pic.twitter.com/o2FgIgCk3G
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) June 1, 2024

K-State hammered 18 hits for 19 runs with 10 extra-base hits, including a season-high five home runs.

Four different Wildcats belted a home run in the opening round, that included two from Chuck Ingram, who went 3-for-5 with a season-high five RBI. K-State's five home runs over La Tech set a school record for total blasts in a postseason game – conference championship, regional or super regional.

"That game was in limbo, you know, overnight and with [La Tech] offense you never know which way it's gonna go. They're scary. But we needed to come up with energy in the sixth inning and score and keep adding to our lead and our kids responded to that. They accepted the challenge, and they were awesome."

Culpepper and Parsons each turned in four-hit days for K-State, going 4-for-5 with four runs driven in, followed by Brady Day (2-for-5) with three RBI.

In his 18^th start of the season, left-hander Owen Boerema held the Bulldogs to two hits in his 4 1/3 innings of work. The Litchfield, Minn., product struck out six batters and surrendered four earned runs. With 105 strikeouts on the year, Boerema sits fifth all-time in K-State history with 200 total strikeouts.

Sophomore lefty Cole Wisenbaker (2-0) was credited with the win, logging 2/3 innings in relief of Boerema. Blake Dean and Josh Wintroub each tossed two scoreless innings in relief and allowed two hits.

THE RUNDOWN
K-State struck in the opening frame with a pair of runs in its first regional appearance since 2013. Lead-off centerfielder Brendan Jones walked on four straight pitches and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Parsons.

Culpepper was hit by his seventh pitch of the season – 27^th in his career – to make it first and second before Day's single and a sacrifice fly from Nick English lifted K-State to a 2-0 lead.

Following a 1-2-3 inning behind Boerema, Ingram unloaded on the first pitch he faced from La Tech's Luke Nichols and put a two-out solo shot 420-feet out to left field.

The Wildcats built off Ingram's homer and added two runs with a single from Parsons and triple by Culpepper. A towering two-run blast from Day that bounced off the Razorback's facility in right field capped the Wildcats' five-run second inning.

Leading into the sixth inning, K-State led 9-4 before the game was delayed due to inclement weather until it was suspended an hour and a half later.

After the 13-hour hiatus, the Wildcats picked up right where they left off, as Parsons, a native of British Columbia, Canada, belted his second homer of the season out to right to start off the sixth.

K-State built off the solo shot and scored 10 runs in a three-inning span to put the game away, that included a five-run eighth inning.

INSIDE THE BOX

K-State scored a season-high 19 runs on 18 hits, committed no errors, and stranded eight runners on base.
La Tech scored four runs on four runs on six hits with two errors and left nine men on base.
As the visiting team, nine different Wildcats generated a hit led by four-hit days from Parsons and Culpepper.
Ten of K-State's 18 hits were for extra-bases.
K-State hit five home runs (Ingram (2), Culpepper, Day, Parsons)
Ingram drove in a season-high five RBI, followed by Parsons and Culpepper with four each while Day had three.
Wisenbaker (2-0) picked up the win in relief, logging 2/3 innings of work.
Boerema struck out a game-high six in his 4 1/3 inning start.
Dean and Wintroub combined for four scoreless innings in relief.
Nichols (4-4) took the loss, allowing seven runs (seven earned) on five hits in his 1 2/3 inning start.
K-State was 5-for-5 on the base path.
The Cats hit .458 (11-for-24) with runners on base and were 7-for-14 (.500) with men in scoring position.

NOTES

Culpepper became just the fourth player in K-State history to hit for the cycle – Ross Kivett (2014), Heath Schesser (1997), and Craig Wilson (1992).
With 105 strikeouts on the year, Boerema sits fifth all-time in K-State history with 200 total strikeouts.
K-State produced its 18^th multi-home run game of the season.
Ingram turned in his second multi-home run game with K-State.
K-State's five home runs over La Tech set a school record for total blasts in a postseason game – conference championship, regional and super regional.
Culpepper has been hit by 27 pitches in his career, which ties 10^th all-time alongside Clayton Dalrymple (2013-16).
With 105 strikeouts on the year, Boerema sits fifth all-time in K-State history with 200 total strikeouts.
In the all-time series, K-State leads 4-1 against La Tech.
K-State improved to 4-3 in neutral games.
The Cats are 8-8 overall in the NCAA Tournament, and 7-6 in regional games.

UP NEXT
With a quick turnaround, K-State will take on No. 5 and top-seeded Arkansas (44-14) tonight at 8 p.m. CT at Baum-Walker Stadium. The nightcap can be seen on ESPNU and the ESPN 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.

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Team Stats

Jaden Parsons

Kaelen Culpepper

Chuck Ingram

Brady Day

Players Mentioned

Owen Boerema

Kaelen Culpepper

Brady Day

Blake Dean

Nick English

Chuck Ingram

Brendan Jones

Jaden Parsons

Josh Wintroub

Cole Wisenbaker

Players Mentioned

Owen Boerema

Kaelen Culpepper

Brady Day

Blake Dean

Nick English

Chuck Ingram

Brendan Jones

Jaden Parsons

Josh Wintroub

Cole Wisenbaker

Kansas State University Athletics