By Chris Kutz, K-State Athletics Communications
MESA, Ariz. – The K-State baseball team scored a season-high 12 runs on Sunday with the help of 11 hits and another season-best six walks to beat Washington State, 12-3, at Sloan Park in the Big 12/Pac-12 Challenge.
The Wildcats (4-4) scored in five of the first six innings, with the highest-scoring frame coming in the sixth when K-State plated five runs to blow open a 12-2 lead.
Tyler Moore capped the crooked sixth with a three-run home run to left field, the first homer of his career and by a Wildcat this season. The junior finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Carter Yagi and Danny Krause joined Moore as the three Wildcats with multi-hit and multi-RBI efforts. Krause’s two runs driven in both came on a two-run double that preceded Moore’s roundtripper while Yagi plated a run in the second with a bunt single and in the third with a sacrifice fly.
Corey Fischer turned in a quality start for the Wildcats, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks in six innings pitched. The junior also struck out five, falling one short of his season-high, to pick up his first career K-State win.
After Washington State quickly jumped on the board in the top of the first off Fischer, Yagi ignited the K-State response with a leadoff single in the bottom half of the inning. He advanced to second base on a groundout by Jake Wodtke, but he created more pressure when he stole third with no throw by Washington State. Conlon then drove in Yagi with a double down the right-field line to tie the game at 1-1.
“I thought the pressure right away, with Yagi getting on and stealing third and then Conlon getting on and also stealing third, helped quite a bit,” said K-State head coach Brad Hill. “We really distracted (Washington State starting pitcher Nick Leonard), and he was more worried about our baserunners. Next thing you know, we cashed in, had some big hits and drove some runs in.”
The Wildcats broke out for three two-out runs in the second to cushion the advantage. Krause, who led off the inning with a single, came around to score on Yagi’s RBI single before Wodtke drilled a ball near the warning track in left field. The fly ball was dropped by Washington State left fielder Daniel Fredrickson on the run, allowing Clayton Dalrymple and Yagi to score.
In the third, K-State used the benefit of three walks and a hit by pitch to plate two runs. Tyler Wolfe started the scoring when he drew a bases-loaded walk, and Yagi’s sacrifice fly drove home Moore to make it 6-1.
The Wildcats benefited from more Washington State mistakes in the fourth when Conlon reached with a single and Steve Serratore drew a walk. Conlon and Serratore converted a double steal to put themselves in scoring position, which paid off when Krause struck out but reached on a third-strike passed ball that also allowed Conlon to score.
Meanwhile, K-State kept its mistakes to a minimum as the Wildcats did not commit an error for the first time all weekend and second time this season. K-State had seven combined errors over the first three games, including three in each of its two losses.
Jackson Douglas made his second career appearance for K-State, throwing two hitless innings in relief of Fischer. The left-hander walked two and struck out one.
“That’s kind of how you draw it up in college baseball,” said Hill. “Your starter goes six innings and gives up two runs. Your relievers throw the next three and give up one, and no errors for the first time (this weekend) – that really helps out.”
Leonard took the loss for the Cougars after he surrendered four runs, two earned, on four hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings.
The Wildcats will return to Kansas and prepare for their home opener at Tointon Family Stadium on Friday, February 27. First pitch against Eastern Illinois will be at 3 p.m.
