K-State Baseball: Wildcats Finally Earn a True Road Series Victory with 8-2 Sunday Win

The Wildcats went on the road this weekend in desperate need of a strong showing in a true road series. And after Friday’s loss, it looked like more of the same, but a big win on Saturday turned into a bigger win on Sunday as K-State (17-10, 1-2) takes the series from Creighton (12-9-1, 0-0) with an 8-2 victory. K-State finishes the month of March going 15-3, a big turnaround from their 2-7 mark in February.

It was an all-around victory for the BatCats today. At the plate, the Cats were led again by Senior RJ Santigate (3-5, 1 RBI), with Senior Ross Kivett (2-4, 1 RBI) and Junior Mitch Meyer (2-4, 2 RBI) right behind. Meyer finally busted through the slump he had been in since the Oklahoma road trip with a near-HR RBI-double in the 2^nd inning and a RBI-single in the 9^th. Kivett, Santigate, and Freshman Tanner Devinny also extend their hit streaks at 13, 12, and 12 respectively. Kivett is also in the midst of a 25-game on-base streak, which is big in its own right, but even bigger after noting that this was the Cats 27^th game of the season.

Freshman Nate Griep (3-0) got the start on the mound for the Wildcats, and with the win continued the strong performance he has shown in the middle part of the season. Griep only gave up two runs on seven hits though looked shaky early. But after giving up a two-RBI HR in the 3^rd, he settled down and allowed no more runs. Freshman Jordan Floyd pitched one inning of one-hit scoreless relief before giving way to Sophomore Jake Matthys who closed out the game allowing only one hit and no runs. There was a tense moment early in the 8^th, as the first batter Floyd faced hit one on a rope right at the pitcher, hitting him in the leg. He shook it off, and his defense followed with a double-play and a foul-ball snag.

Sophomore Taylor Elman (1-3) recorded the start and loss for the Bluejays, giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits through six innings of work. The Bluejay bullpen saw less work this game, as Sophomore Nick Highberger was the only Bluejay to pitch relief. Highberger finished the final three innings giving up three runs on five hits, with all three runs coming in the top of the ninth. The Bluejays were lead at the plate by Junior Jake Peter (3-4) and Senior Mike Gerber (2-3, HR, 2 RBI).

The Wildcats will remain in Omaha as they face Nebraska-Omaha on Tuesday at 6:30pm CT. This will be the second meeting between the Wildcats and the Mavericks after the scheduled second meeting in Manhattan was cancelled due to weather. The Wildcats will then return home for their big series with KU the following weekend.