(Courtesy K-State Sports Information)
Ross Kivett pulled a game-winning RBI double down the left-field line in the bottom of the ninth as the Wildcats earned their first walk-off win of the season with a 4-3 victory over Northern Colorado Tuesday evening at Tointon Family Stadium. The Wildcats, who improved to 11-0 all-time against the Bears, evened their season record at 18-18 with the victory. Northern Colorado fell to 14-18. Trailing 3-1, Northern Colorado scored two runs in the top of the ninth when the Bears recorded four-straight leadoff singles, including a two-run base hit to left field by pinch hitter Bryan Tibbitts. With the go-ahead run at second base, Jake Doller (1-0) forced a double play, but the Bears were 90 feet away from taking the lead with two outs in the innings. Following an intentional walk, Doller caught a line drive off the bat of Casey Coy to keep the game tied at three apiece. Josh Tinnon (0-1) came out of the UNC bullpen to strike out Jake Brown to begin the ninth. Tanner Witt then reached on an error by third baseman Tony Crudo. On the play, the Wildcat designated hitter hustled to second base and barely beat the throw of left fielder Jensen Park to put the winning run into scoring position before Kivett’s game winner. Kivett finished the game 2-for-4 as he picked up his second ninth-inning game-winning RBI of the season. It was also his second career walk-off hit as he sent the Wildcats to a 10-inning, 11-10 victory in the 2011 home finale against Kansas. Doller picked up his first win of the season and second of his career. Jared Moore started the game and worked a career-long five innings, allowing a run on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts. The left-hander threw 96 pitches, bettering his career high of 56 on February 20 against CSU Bakersfield.
