(K-State Athletics) – K-State scored four unanswered runs to take the Dillons Sunflower Showdown Sunday, including a go-ahead two-run single by Nick English in the seventh, as the Wildcats took the rubber game from Kansas, 4-2, at Tointon Family Stadium.
“Three really good ball games, I think it’s great for college baseball in this region of the country and great for college baseball in the state of Kansas,” said head coach Pete Hughes. “Just the amount of people that showed up in a very emotionally invested weekend, it speaks volumes to where our programs are at. That’s my biggest takeaway.”
Down 2-0 headed into the fifth, K-State (28-19, 12-12 Big 12) scored four runs over a four-inning span highlighted by English’s go-ahead two-run single in the seventh. With Sunday’s victory, K-State has won three consecutive series over the Jayhawks (27-17, 13-11 Big 12).
“The second game winner for a freshman with some emotional ties in this rivalry with his brother on the other side. So it makes for a really good story. We have a confident kid that can slow the game down in those situations and be able to execute and put good swings on, so it’s pretty awesome,” commented Hughes.
English, a true freshman from Olathe, Kan., also delivered the game-winning hit in Friday’s series opener. He finished the weekend hitting .333 (4-for-12) with three runs driven in. Jaden Parsons turned his first three-hit game with K-State with a run scored while Brady Day and Chuck Ingram each recorded an RBI.
“It is certainly great to play well against a rival in game three, the deciding game. We were able to do that by just being patient, not being down, and just letting our offense come out there at the end. We pulled away late and you know when you have a closer like [Tyson Neighbors] and also a really good setup guy like Blake Dean, it’s crucial to grab that late lead.”
Dean retired 11 of the 13 batters he faced to pick up the victory in relief (4-3). The freshman righty from Acworth, Ga., scattered just one hit over his 3 2/3 scoreless innings of with three strikeouts.
In his last four outings, Neighbors has earned a save as he collected his sixth of the season. Neighbors, a Baseball America Preseason All-American, struck out three of the five batters he faced in the final inning with a batter reaching on a wild pitch.
“All in all, really good effort by our guys. Just proud of our guys. They never panic, they showed up ready to win a series. They never get beat by the day before. That’s a mature confident athlete that can do that.”
Five pitchers made an appearance for KU, with Cooper Moore (1-2) receiving the loss while starter Evan Shaw struck out seven in his three innings of work. Moore allowed two hits, that included English’s two-run single. Collier Cranford and Lenny Ashby each turned in multi-hit efforts.
THE RUNDOWN
KU opened scoring with a 1-0 lead in the second inning, as Chase Diggins lifted a deep fly ball to left field to score the runner on the sacrifice fly. A solo homer by Ty Wilson doubled the Jayhawks lead in the fourth.
Freshman Adam Arther and Dean teamed up to strikeout the side in the fifth, leaving runners on first and second.
The Wildcats pushed their first run across the plate in the fifth, as Parsons and Raphael Pelletier each singled before Ingram flared a 0-2 pitch deep into right field that allowed Parsons to score.
Trailing 2-1, Brendan Jones was issued a walk to lead off the sixth until the junior stole his 32nd base of the season and advanced to third on a balk. Brady Day battled in a nine-pitch at bat before lifting a fly ball to left field, and driving in Jones to even the score.
The Wildcats took the lead in the seventh, as Ingram walked on four pitches and advanced to third on a single through the right side from David Bishop. With two outs, English laced the third pitch he faced from Moore into right field to score Ingram and Bishop.
Dean retired the Jayhawks in order in his final inning before Neighbors entered the game in the ninth. The junior righty struck out the first two batters he faced before a double and wild pitch brought the go-ahead run to the plate, but a fly ball to center ended the threat and secured the series victory.
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