MANHATTAN, Kan. (K-State Athletics) – K-State used a four-run third inning to hand Omaha a 6-4 defeat Tuesday night at Tointon Family Stadium.

“Important win for our program,” said K-State head baseball coach Pete Hughes. “We are heading down the homestretch. Every game is so valuable even on Tuesdays, there are RPI ramifications, and I thought it was a solid team effort.”

“Sometimes after an emotional weekend, you worry about energy coming into the park, and that includes our fans too. They also get caught up in emotional conference weekends and want to rest on Tuesdays too. The key is just to have your guys focused and create energy in your dugout, I thought we did a good job.”

Omaha (12-24) jumped out to an early 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the third until K-State scored four unanswered runs, capped by RBI singles from Jayden Lobliner and Brendan Jones to capture the nightcap victory.

“For the most part, our bullpen was tremendous tonight, JJ Slack, Blake Dean, and Tyson Neighbors. That’s a pretty good script for the last five innings of baseball and that is the storyline of the game. Solid, consistent performances allowed us to sit on that lead we built early.”

Slack received the victory in relief of starter Josh Wintroub, who allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in his four-inning start. Slack (1-0) surrendered one earned run on two hits in his two innings of work.

Dean and Neighbors combined for three scoreless innings of no-hit ball in the final frames with three strikeouts. Neighbors earned his third save of the season and 14th career, which ranks fourth all-time in school history.

Jones and Lobliner each delivered two hits with an RBI and run scored. Offensively, the Wildcats were issued 11 walks with four players drawing multiple, led by Jaden Parsons with a season-high three.

Jones, the Big 12 stolen bases leader, had three steals on the night for his third consecutive game with multiple. Now with 59 career stolen bases, the Greenbrier, Tenn., product is two away from tying fourth all-time in school history.

THE RUNDOWN
Omaha led off the midweek with a 2-0 edge, highlighted by a lead-off, solo home run from Matt Goetzmann.

The Wildcats evened the score in the home half of the inning after taking advantage of three consecutive walks issued by UNO’s starter Carter Navin. Brady Day lifted a 2-1 pitch to the warning track to score Jones before Parsons crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

Down 3-2, Day walked to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a double from Nick English. K-State drew its sixth walk to load the bases for the third time of the night.

Chuck Ingram was hit by a pitch to score the tying run until an RBI single by Lobliner handed the Cats the go-ahead lead. A sacrifice fly from Cayden Phillips and a hit up the middle from Jones extended the lead to three.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

  • K-State scored six runs on eight hits with two errors committed and 13 left on base.
  • UNO scored four runs on seven hits, committed no errors and stranded 11 on base.
  • Six different players generated a hit for K-State, with five driving in a run.
  • Jones stole three bases for his seventh multi-stolen base game this season.
  • K-State turned two double plays in the nightcap.
  • Jones and Lobliner each had two hits with an RBI and run scored.
  • Slack (1-0) was credited the win in relief, allowing one run on two hits in his two innings of work.
  • Dean and Neighbors combined for three scoreless innings with Neighbors earning his third save of the year.
  • Louthan (0-1) received the loss, surrendering four runs, all earned, on five hits in his 1 2/3 innings.
  • Three of K-State’s eight hits were doubles.
  • K-State was 4-for-18 (.222) with men on base and hit.214 (3-for-14) with runners in scoring position, while hitting .273 (3-for-11) with two outs.
  • Omaha hit .143 (3-for-21) with runners on base and went  2-for-12 (.167) with runners in scoring position.

NOTES

  • K-State leads the all-time series 17-3, including 13-1 in Manhattan.
  • The Wildcats are 5-1 against UNO in the Hughes era.
  • At home, K-State improves to 16-5 overall and 11-1 in non-conference play.
  • Jones turned in his third consecutive game with multiple steals – ranks fifth all-time in school history with 59 career steals.
  • Opponents have issued 10+ walks to the Cats in six contests this season.

ON DECK
K-State returns to Big 12 action to take on TCU (23-15, 3-9 Big 12) in a three-game set, starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Lupton Stadium in Fort Worth. The Conference series can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while radio coverage available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM). A free live streaming audio available for all games at KStateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app.

How to follow the ‘Cats: Stay up to date on K-State baseball online at www.kstatesports.com and on the team’s social media channels on Facebook, X formally known as Twitter and Instagram.

The post Four-Run Third Pushes K-State Past Omaha appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

Comments

comments