MANHATTAN, Kan. (K-State Athletics) – Three true freshmen pitchers, Nick Goodwin’s five RBI and 14 hits put K-State back into the win column as the Wildcats defeated St. Thomas, 11-3, on Tuesday night at Tointon Family Stadium.
After registering just three hits in the past five games, Goodwin swung his way out a slump going 3-for-3 at the plate while sending out his 26th career home run. The Wildcats (14-7, 1-2 Big 12) produced double figure hits for the eighth time on the season to take game one of the two-game series with the Tommies (1-13, 0-3 Summit).
“Tonight was a good bounce back for our guys with lots of good things to build on,” head coach Pete Hughes said. “It was good to see Nick Goodwin have a really good night and also see Roberto Pena swinging again.”
The Cats had three true freshmen make appearances on Tuesday with Cole Wisenbaker earning his second victory on the mound. After entering the game in the fourth, the right-hander gave up just one earned run on three hits with two strikeouts.
“It was a nice win with an all freshmen pitching staff. They pitched with composure and surrendering only one walk was reassuring,” said Hughes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first inning, St. Thomas took a 1-0 lead in the second after Colin Lewandowski doubled down the left field line until the freshman came around a single in center.
The Cats broke through in the third frame, plating four runs led by a three-run home run from Goodwin. Roberto Pena reached on a fielder’s choice before scoring on Brendan Jones’ single into left center. Dom Hughes walked to position runners on first and second to bring Goodwin to the plate.
The junior shortstop from Overland, Park launched his 26th career home run over the left field wall to stretch the Cats lead out to three, 4-1.
UST brought the game within two with a sacrifice fly into right but was immediately responded in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, the Cats landed two runners on base until they took advantage of a misplayed infield pop fly.
Cash Rugely led off the sixth frame with a double down the left field line to ignite a three-run inning as the senior stole third before coming across the plate on a sac fly. Back-to-back hits from Roberto Pena and Jones tagged a run to the board for the Cats until a wild pitch made it 8-2.
Goodwin drove in a pair of RBI with a single into left center before pinch hitter Kyan Lodice hit through the right side to score Hughes from third.
The Tommies’ Joe Vos singled to start off a two-out rally before the Mondovi, Wis., product scored on a fielding error, but Mason Buss forced a fly out to center to retire the final batter.
INSIDE THE BOX
- K-State scored 11 runs on 14 hits with two errors and eight left on base
- Andrew Evans earned his first collegiate start, tossing 3 1/3 inning with one run (one earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts
- The freshmen pitching staff allowed just three runs (two earned) on 11 hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in the ninth
- Goodwin went 3-for-3 at the plate for his 37th career multi-hit game
- Johnson extended his hit streak out to a team-high 11
- Four Cats continue to their double-digit on-base streaks with Salinas and Goodwin reaching in 13 straight games
- The Cats totaled 14 hits for just the second time this season; Cats hit season-high 17 against Stonehill (March 4)
NOTES
- The Wildcats hold a perfect 8-0 record at home this season
- K-State took a 1-0 lead in the all-time series
- The Cats move to 381-204 (.651) overall at Tointon; 71-27 (.721) at home under Hughes
- K-State stole four bases on Tuesday to bring the season to 61 which leads the Big 12
- Brendan Jones has 17 stolen bases on the year and is eight away from cracking the Top 10 single-season leaderboard; school record is held by Russ Ringgenberg with 43 in 1989
- The Wildcats were 11-10 through 21 games in 2022
- K-State took the lead in the Big 12 with 154 walks while ranking third in the league with 29 home runs, second in RBI (169), and first in stolen bases (61)
ON DECK
Game two against Tommies is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday night at Tointon Family Stadium. The series finale can be seen on the Big 12 Now on ESPN + and the ESPN app with radio coverage o
