MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State took a 3-0 lead into the top of the fourth, but Oklahoma State came back to score the game’s final 13 runs en route to a 13-3 victory Saturday afternoon at Tointon Family Stadium.
With the win, the Cowboys improved to 25-17 overall and 10-7 in Big 12 play. K-State fell to 19-25 on the season and 3-14 in conference play, while the Wildcats’ current seven-game losing streak is the longest since 2003.
Kansas State scored two runs in the second inning on RJ Santigate’s first career homer and scratched across another run in the third when Jared King hit a sacrifice fly to center field, which proved to be the final batter that Oklahoma State starter Vince Wheeland would face.
Kenton Bevacqua came on for Wheeland and induced a pop up for the second out but hitJon Davis before being immediately pulled in favor of Chase Stevens. The right-hander entered with two on and two out to face Mike Kindel. On a 2-0 pitch, Kindel hit a high fly ball deep to right field, but OSU right fielder Zach Fish caught the ball two steps from the wall for the final out, keeping the K-State lead at three.
The next half inning against K-State starter Joe Flattery (4-3) – who had retired the first nine Cowboys to start the contest – Oklahoma State batted around as it exploded for five runs. The biggest hit of the inning came from Randy McCurry, who slapped a 3-0 pitch into center field for a two-out, two-RBI single off K-State reliever Matt Wivinis.
The Cowboys went on to score three runs in the sixth inning, four in the seventh and one more in the ninth, while Stevens (5-4) settled in to pitch the final six innings, working around three hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
Oklahoma State was led offensively by McCurry’s three-RBI game, while Jarrett Higgins and Jared Womack each drove in two runs. Robbie Rea and Trey Whaley paced the Cowboys with three hits apiece.
Davis and Ross Kivett paced the Wildcats with two hits apiece. Jake Doller pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowing one run on one hit. Thanks to Doller’s career-high tying five strikeouts, the K-State pitching staff fanned 12 Oklahoma State batters for the second-consecutive game. It marked the sixth conference game this season with at least 10 strikeouts, which is tied for the most under head coach Brad Hill.
(Story courtesy of KStateSports.com)
NEXT GAME: Sunday, April 29 vs. OKLAHOMA STATE (25-17 overall, 10-7 Big 12)
Sunday’s series finale between K-State and Oklahoma State is set for a 12 p.m., first pitch at Tointon Family Stadium. The game can be heard in the Manhattan area on Sports Radio 1350 KMAN or online at 1350kman.com
