MESA, Ariz. – Kansas State scored in each of its first four innings en route to a 12-3 victory over Washington State Sunday on the final day of the Pac-12/Big 12 Challenge at Sloan Park.
With the loss the Cougars even their season record at 4-4 while Kansas State improves to 4-4.
“We hit some balls hard but right at them,” said WSU Head Coach Donnie Marbut. “On the mound we left some balls up in the zone and they took advantage. I know we will bounce back, get two hard practices on Tuesday and Wednesday, and be ready to face UC Riverside Thursday.”
The Cougars struck first as Ian Sagdal hit a two-out single to center and scored on Ben Robert's single up the middle for the 1-0 lead. It was short-lived, however, as the Wildcats tied the score in the bottom of the frame thanks to Shane Conlon's RBI double, scoring Carter Yagi.
KSU added three more in the second thanks to a two-run error by the Cougar defense and then increased the lead in the third as a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Yagi made it 6-1.
In the top of the sixth WSU added a run as Tyler McDowell's RBI double to right scored Derek Chapman, cutting the lead to 7-2. In the bottom of the inning the Wildcats blew the game open, scoring five runs as they strung together four hits and took advantage of WSU's second of three errors on the day to push the lead to 12-2. Danny Krause had a ground-run double to bring home two runs and Tyler Moore capped the frame with a three-run home run.
WSU added a run in the ninth as Wes Leow singled then came around to score on Haakon Lande's RBI groundout to second.
The Cougars collected nine hits on the day, two by Jack Strunc, while starter Nick Leonard (0-1), one of five WSU pitchers on the afternoon, suffered the loss. Corey Fischer (1-0) started and went six innings for Kansas State to get the win.
WSU is back in action Thursday, Feb. 26, when it opens its home schedule with the first of four games against UC Riverside. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Bailey-Brayton Field.
--wsucougars.com--
