MANHATTAN, KS (K-State) – The K-State offense broke out with a four-run eighth inning, highlighted by a go-ahead two-run single from Danniel Rivera to complete the home-and-home series sweep of Wichita State, as the Wildcats won 6-3 Wednesday night at Tointon Family Stadium.
“Really good atmosphere, I thought that game was great for college baseball in our state and region,” said head coach Pete Hughes. “It’s what it’s all about. There’s nothing more enjoyable as a coach than watching your kids execute under pressure and in late-game situations. We did a phenomenal job doing that in the eighth inning.”
K-State (21-10), which captured an 8-6 victory over the Shockers on March 19, climbed out of an early three-run hole with six unanswered runs to put away its seventh consecutive non-conference victory. The win also marks the Wildcats’ 10th come-from-behind win of the season.
The Wildcat bullpen slammed the door shut on the Shockers’ offense (19-15), as three relief pitchers combined for six shutout innings led by a season-long four innings from JJ Slack. The left-handed transfer from Liberty, Texas, scattered just three hits in his four innings of work in relief of starter Mason Buss.
“I can’t say enough about JJ Slack coming in and neutralizing a hot offense. He hasn’t had the opportunities he wanted this year, so he kept working at his craft. We never stop evaluating as a staff, and he’s gotten better and better which warranted a great opportunity for him tonight,” commented Hughes on Slack’s performance.
In just his third outing of the season, Slack retired 11 of 14 batters he faced that included three 1-2-3 innings with a season-high four strikeouts.
“It couldn’t have gone any better for him and thankfully for our team, but like I said, a lot of kids came up in big spots and executed under pressure and that’s what it’s all about.”
Jacob Frost (3-1) collected the victory, throwing a shutout inning in relief, while Jackson Wentworth earned his sixth save of the season, which ranks second in the Big 12.
Seven different players produced a hit in the win led by Brady Day. The Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List honoree went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored to turn in his 15th multi-hit effort of the season. Kaelen Culpepper and Jaden Parsons each tallied a pair of hits, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.
Brady Hamilton (1-3) was credited with the loss, after surrendering two runs (one earned) on three hits in the eighth inning while four Shockers had two-hit days.
