Kansas State Baseball Open Home Play With Win Over Oakland

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Playing its first of a 19-game homestand this afternoon against Oakland University (0-4), Kansas State (4-3) survived a late comeback attempt to down the Golden Grizzlies, 4-2. Sophomore Nate Williams faced 30 batters over 7.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits while walking three and striking out five. Senior Tanner Witt finished with three hits and one run to lead the offense.

Witt put the Wildcats on the board early, recording a single and stealing second in the first inning. He was driven home by Shane Conlon, who ended the inning stranded on second. K-State then scored two runs in the fourth. RJ Santigate came out swinging, knocking the first pitch he saw into far left center for a double. Blair Debord then grounded out at first, but advanced Santigate to third. A single by Austin Fisher brought Santigate home. Tanner Witt, with his third at-bat of the game, doubled to advance Fisher to third. Conlon then grounded out, but advanced Witt to third while bringing Fisher home. Jared King popped out to end the inning.

The teams then traded runs later in the game, with Oakland scoring one in the sixth, Kansas State one in the seventh, and Oakland the game’s final run in the eighth. In the eighth, Oakland’s first batter reached base on an error and reached home three hitters later. However, the Grizzlies left two on base in the inning, started the ninth with two straight strike outs, and never threatened again. The two teams play a double-header on Sunday, starting at noon. The game’s first pitcher for K-State will be lefty Joe Flattery(0-1, 10.50 ERA, 6.0 IP, 3 BB, 2 K). Right-handed Matt Wivinis (0-0, 5.40 ERA, 10.0 IP, 1 BB, 10 K) will start the second game.