West Virginia sweeps Wildcat baseball in last Large 12 regular-season collection

Kansas State baseball traveled to Morgantown, West Virginia, hoping to make an announcement to the NCAA event committee with a sweep. That assertion was severely reversed because the West Virginia Mountaineers swept the Wildcats in a three-game collection.

Ok-State head coach Pete Hughes burdened the significance of ending the common season 4-0 on the street towards two probably event groups. Nonetheless, the street journey obtained off to a rocky begin towards the third-best workforce within the nation, Virginia Tech, shedding 8-2 on Tuesday night.

The loss carried over into Thursday’s sport one contest towards West Virginia, getting whooped 15-4. Friday night time’s sport duplicated Thursday’s 15-4 end result, whereas Ok-State misplaced 5-1 in Saturday’s afternoon matchup.

The three-game collection advised the story of the Wildcat’s season – that they’re profitable at house however battle on the street. It concluded Ok-State’s season with a 1-11 Large 12 street document, in comparison with a 7-5 house convention document.

The primary 15-4 affair was ugly from the beginning, with West Virginia fronting a seven-run lead after simply three innings. Ok-State scored two runs within the fifth and one within the seventh to maintain the sport from getting worse, however the Mountaineers hammered aid pitchers Ben Weber (two runs surrendered) and Elijah Dale (5 runs allowed).

“The third inning set the tone for the entire sport,” Ok-State head coach Pete Hughes stated to Ok-State Athletics. “I used to be disillusioned as a result of we had our possibilities to get again into that factor within the fourth and fifth innings. We simply weren’t capable of get huge hits they usually did.”

Ok-State’s senior switch Josh Nicoloff and junior Money Rugely have been liable for one run apiece, whereas Brady Day crossed the plate twice. Day and Rugely have performed prior to now two Large 12 collection and have stepped as much as the plate.

What’s no shock is that Dom Johnson knocked in three of Ok-State’s 4 runs on Thursday night, with three RBIs. All-American Dylan Phillips knocked the opposite run in.

West Virginia obtained forward in sport two of the collection, much like sport one, taking command within the third and fourth innings this time and getting out to an early 11-0 lead.

Ok-State scored two runs within the fifth inning and one within the seventh like Thursday’s sport. The Wildcats earned their fourth within the eighth inning, nevertheless it was too-little-too-late at that time.

“To beat West Virginia, you’ve obtained to reduce free passes, and we didn’t try this,” Hughes stated to Ok-State Athletics. “You’ve obtained to manage the massive inning, and we didn’t try this. The final element to beat West Virginia is to manage the working sport, and we have been poor in that space.”

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The Mountaineers scored 4 insurance coverage runs within the sixth inning to provide themselves 15 runs, sufficient to safe the collection victory.

Rugely made one other impression for the Wildcats, this time hitting within the two-spot within the lineup. He didn’t rating any runs however smacked two RBIs to assist Ok-State get on the board.

Dom Johnson, Nick Goodwin, Justin Mitchell and Cole Johnson every scored one run to whole Ok-State’s 4. Cole Johnson and Goodwin contributed with their bats alongside Rugely, including RBIs to their names.

German Fajardo began on the mound in Friday’s matchup, exiting the sport with a disappointing seven runs, six earned to his identify. He solely pitched 3.1 innings however gave up 4 hits and 6 walks to assist West Virginia accomplish that seven-spot on the scoreboard.

Blake Corsentino surrendered eight runs, three earned. He matched Fajardo’s three strikeout efficiency however tossed 9 hits and a stroll.

“We’ve obtained a fast turnaround and obtained to get higher in these three areas: restrict walks, injury management the massive inning and management their working sport,” Hughes stated to Ok-State Athletics prematurely of the collection finale.

The ultimate sport of the collection was extra aggressive, toting a 5-1 last rating. West Virginia obtained began early just like the earlier two video games however solely scored one within the first inning and two within the third.

Wildcat catcher Pelletier did a good job limiting the working sport, showcasing a “strike ’em out, throw ’em out” double play on his throw down to 3rd base. Nonetheless, West Virginia nonetheless discovered success at getting runners house.

Strike ’em out. Throw ’em out. ????#KStateBSB pic.twitter.com/n4GyZNvD0A

— Ok-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) May 21, 2022

Ok-State matched the Mountaineer run within the second inning to tie it at one run, however that was the one run the Wildcats scored. West Virginia scored two insurance coverage runs within the eighth inning to complete a cushty victory within the ninth inning.

The beginning pitcher in Wildcat grey was utility participant Dylan Phillips, throwing three innings and giving up three runs, two earned. Aid pitchers Christian Ruebeck and Griffin Hassall threw two innings apiece, permitting zero runs, whereas Ty Ruhl surrendered the 2 Mountaineer runs within the eighth inning.

Kaelen Culpepper scored the lone Wildcat run within the second inning on a solo house run. The opposite 4 hits got here from 4 completely different batters, which means no Wildcats had a multi-hit efficiency.

The four-game shedding streak to complete the season concludes Ok-State’s season with a .500 document at 27-27. The Wildcats’ house document was 21-7, whereas their street document was 6-17, ending 8-16 in convention play.

Ok-State awaits its first opponent within the Large 12 event, scheduled to play at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Could 25. Viewing is accessible on Large 12 Now on ESPN+.