MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State broke a 5-5 tie in the sixth and retired the final 10 Wichita State hitters to hold on for a 7-5 win on Tuesday night at Tointon Family Stadium.
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Both teams scored in four different innings, with Kansas State answering Wichita State scoring in the first, third, fifth and sixth innings.
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The Shockers struck first in the opening frame, using a pair of singles to set the stage for a run-scoring fielder's choice grounder from
Jayson Jones to take a 1-0 lead. Kansas State got the run right back in the home half of the inning via a two-out RBI triple from AJ Evasco, leveling the ledger at 1-1.
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Wichita State (11-6) took the lead back in the top of the third inning on back-to-back solo homers from
Max Kaufer and
Jayson Jones, the fourth time this season the Shockers have gone back-to-back.
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The 3-1 advantage did not last long, however, as Kansas State (12-4) fired right back with three runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by a two-run shot from Dee Kennedy.
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WSU cashed in on a one-out double from
Owen Washburn in the fifth, eventually tying the game at 4-4 with two outs when Jones rifled a single back through the middle. The Wildcats broke the deadlock on a fielder's choice grounder from Robby Bolin in the bottom of the inning.
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Another Wichita State double helped produce a run in the sixth.
Jack Quick led off the frame with a two-bagger, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored when pinch-hitter
Jacob Gutierrez knocked him home on a groundout.
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Kansas State delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and the bases empty, Evasco reached on an infield single against reliever
Brady Owens (0-1). Carlos Vasquez followed by slicing a triple off the wall in right, scoring Evasco for a 6-5 lead. A run-scoring double from Micah Kendrick followed to produce the final margin.
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Adam Arther (1-0) picked up the win for Kansas State, working 2.2 innings while allowing four hits and two runs. Tazwell Butler notched his second save of the season with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth.
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Wichita State used eight pitchers on the evening, getting scoreless appearances from
Reese Kortum,
Amar Tsengeg,
Karsen Richard and
Brady Pacha.
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Washburn finished 2-for-4 to extend his streak of consecutive multi-hit games to nine.
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The Shockers are back at Eck Stadium on Thursday night against Butler. First pitch of the series opener against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 6:05 pm CT.
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