By Chris Kutz, K-State Athletics Communications
(Photo Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics)
WICHITA, Kan. – K-State surrendered six runs in the first two innings, including five in the second, and a total of 15 hits in an 11-5 loss at Wichita State on Tuesday as the two schools split the season series.
The Wildcats (23-25) surrendered eight of the 11 runs by Shockers (19-29) before the fourth inning, with starting pitcher Mark Biesma and reliever Brandon Erickson bearing brunt to the damage. The senior Biesma allowed a run in the first before seeing the first four batters of the second reach safely with two hits and two walks. Biesma was lifted in favor of Erickson after the fourth batter, but the junior surrendered a bases-loaded single that produced three runs due in part to a fielding error by the left fielder, Danny Krause.
K-State committed three errors in total – its most in a game since March 10 vs. Creighton – with two helping the Shockers tack on two runs in the third. Catcher Tyler Moore made an errant throw to first on a bunt single by Trey Vickers that allowed Tanner Kirk to score while Krause dropped a fly ball hit by Ryan Tinkham that plated Vickers to make it 8-2.
Wichita State starting pitcher Sam Hilliard earned the win after throwing a season-high 6 2/3 innings and holding the Wildcats to two runs on four hits and one walk. The left-hander struck out five, including three in the fifth.
Shane Conlon and Tyler Moore combined to drive in the first three K-State runs, with Conlon striking first with a two-out, two-run single in the third to make it 6-2 Wichita State. Moore came through in the eighth following Conlon’s leadoff walk as the junior laced a double down the third base line to make it 11-3. The hit was Moore’s second of the game and 11th in his last five contests.
Conlon later singled in the top of the ninth to record his 200th career hit. The redshirt senior became the 18th Wildcat in school history to reach the milestone.
Sam Chadick registered his fourth multi-hit contest over his last seven games by going 2-for-4 with an RBI triple. The triple, his first career extra-base hit, highlighted a two-run ninth inning for the Wildcats as Chadick went on to score on a wild pitch during Tyler Wolfe’s at-bat against Taylor Goshen.
The trio of Chadick, Conlon and Moore combined for six of K-State’s seven hits.
Wichita State capped its scoring in the sixth when Kirk hit a three-run home run off Kyle Halbohn. Halbohn entered the game with two outs and two runners on, inherited from Jackson Douglas.
The lone K-State pitcher to not allow a run was Mitch Plassmeyer. The left-hander worked a scoreless seventh and eighth innings and struck out three to match his career-high. Two of the punchouts occurred in the eighth after he issued a leadoff walk.
Biesma took the loss, his third of the season, as he allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits in one-plus inning.
K-State returns to action on Friday with the first game of a three-game set against Oklahoma at Tointon Family Stadium. First pitch for game one of the Wildcats’ final home series is at 6:30 p.m.
