Kansas State Baseball on Early Win Streak; Florida Weekend Recap
By Dan Horton
The Kansas State Baseball team is on an early winning streak. After an opening game loss to Ohio State, the Bat Cats have won three straight and leave Florida 3-1.
Game 1 – Ohio State (Loss, 3-6)
Falling behind early, the Kansas State Wildcats couldn’t quite make up the deficit to the Buckeyes. Falling behind 3-0 after 3 innings and 6-0 after 4, the Cats didn’t allow another run to OSU.
However, the damage was done. K-State mounted a rally with a run in the 6th and 2 more in the 9th, but it wasn’t enough, despite out hitting OSU 9-6, the Cats started off 0-1 in 2017.
K-State used 5 pitchers in the contest. Starter Bryce Ward, also the loser in game 1, went 3 innings, giving up 3 hits, 3 runs (0 earned), 2 BBs, and striking out 3.
Tyler McKay was went 2/3 of an inning giving up 2 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 4 BBs, and 1 K, facing just 8 hitters.
Game 2 – Pitt (Win, 5-4)
In game 2, K-State had to fight back from behind again. This time, with better results. After spotting Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead after 5 innings of play, the Cats started to play.
A 3-run, sixth inning gave KSU a 3-2 lead. Pitt would tie it in the bottom of the 6th with a lone run to make it 3-3. Pitt would take back the lead in the 7th to make it 4-3.
However, K-State wasn’t packing it in. A two spot in the final at bat for the Cats pushed them out to a 5-4 lead, and the bullpen shut down Pitt in the 9th.
Steve Serratore and Quintin Crandall both homered in the contest, and Justin Heskett earned the win for the Wildcats. Heskett went 5 innings surrendering 7 hits, 2 runs (2 earned), 1 BB and 4 K’s.
Game 3 – Delaware (Win, 7-0)
It was slow going in game 3 versus Delaware. Kansas State opened the scoring in the 5th with 2 runs, followed by a run in the 6th to make it 3-0. It stayed 3-0 until the 8th inning.
In the 8th, the Wildcats would push across 2 runs raising the lead to 5-0. A 2-run 9th closed out the scoring for the Cats at 7-0. K-State out-hit Delaware 12-5 and committed no errors.
Winning pitcher for the Wildcats was Brogan Heinen; 5 innings, 3 hits allowed, 0 earned runs, 2 BBs and 5 K’s.
Bat Cats center fielder Cameron Thompson went 4 for 4 with 2 runs scored and a RBI. Quinton Crandall went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Game 4 – Ohio State (Win, 3-2)
In the rematch of game 1, KSU got to work early. A 1st inning run came after a single from Serratore and a HBP to Jake Scudder with 2 outs, and a Josh Rolette single to right field.
The Wildcats added a second run in the 5th on a single to first base that scored Will Brennan from second. Ohio State scratched 2 runs across in the bottom of the 5th, but that’s all they would get.
K-State pushed ahead in the 8th on a single from Scudder, scoring Wodtke from second base, making the score 3-2. That’s how the game ended as the Wildcats held of the Buckeyes in the 9th.
Thompson and Wodtke both went 2 for 5, Thompson had a RBI and Jake Wodtke a run scored. Parker Rigler started for the Cats, and probably deserved a better fate, as he got the no-decision.
Mitch Zubradt was the pitcher of record after the seventh inning and thus, earned the win, when K-State went ahead in the 8th. Jordan Floyd earned the save.
Next for the BatCats
Now sitting at 3-1, Kansas State heads to Lexington, SC for meetings with South Carolina, St. Johns, and Liberty twice. The action starts on February 23rd and goes through Sunday, February 26th.
The Wildcats first home tilt will come Friday, March 3rd with a 3-game series against Eastern Illinois.
First pitch in South Carolina is slated for 4:00 PM EST (3:00 CST). Best of luck to the Bat Cats, as they look to build on the winning streak.