K-State Baseball: Wildcats Fall to Jayhawks 6-3

It was a tale of role reversal from Friday night for the Wildcats and Jayhawks in the Saturday game as the Wildcats lose 6-3. The Jayhawks had great defense and starting pitching with solid offense, the Wildcats could not get things going offensively while their pitching staff could not keep batters from doing damage. KU scored the first victory by a visiting team in Manhattan in 2014, and evened the series at a game a piece. The Wildcats fall to 18-12, 2-3 on the season, while KU improves to 20-11, 4-4. The loss also ends the Wildcats five game winning streak against KU and is only the third victory by the Jayhawks in Manhattan since 2006.

K-State starter, Senior Jared Moore (5-2), looked shaky at the start and did not show the steely resolve needed by the lone Senior in the bullpen. On the afternoon, Moore gave up five runs, four earned, on ten hits while giving up only two walks and scoring only two strikeouts. In his five and two-thirds innings of work threw 89 pitches to 31 batters. He was replaced by Freshman Jake Fromson, who finished the game in relief, Fromson gave up one run on three hits, walking no batters and tossing three strikeouts.

The Wildcats were led at the plate by Senior Blair DeBord (2-3, 1 RBI), and Freshman Tanner DeVinny (2-4) who continues to have a strong first season while extending his now team-leading hit streak to 14 games. Five Wildcats recorded hits just a day after all nine hit, and never showed the confidence at the plate that was on display the previous evening. With a walk in the 3^rd, Senior R.J. Santigate managed to continue his career-record on base streak that now sits at 22 games.

As expected, KU got a great start from their Saturday starter. Sophomore Robert Kahana (2-4) went six innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits, though he walked five Wildcats while only sitting one down on strikes. The Wildcats made Kahana work though as he threw 96 pitches at only 26 Wildcats. Sophomore Drew Morovick threw and inning and two-thirds in relief, giving up two runs on two hits. Freshman Stephen Villines was credited with the save after allowing no runs while pitching the final inning and a third.

KU showed off its offense today as nine Jawhawks, starters and subs, recorded hits. The Jayhawks were led by Junior Ka’iana Eldredge (2-3, 1 RBI), but four Hawks recorded multiple hits. It was a complete turn-around from Friday night for a Jayhawk team that is not known for its offense.

The final and deciding game of the series begins at 1:00pm on Sunday at Tointon Family Stadium. The Wildcats will send Freshman Nate Griep (3-0, 1.67), who has really shined as of late, to the mound on Sunday. KU will send, in a reverse of most pitching orders, their ace starter to the mound on Sunday, Senior Frank Duncan (2-1, 1.69).

As with the games already this series the game will be available to Cox Cable subscribers on Ch. 22 and TWC subscribers on their sports channel. As always, you can catch the game on the radio on 1350 KMAN, and free live-streaming audio is available at 1350KMAN.com and K-StateSports.com. K-StateHD.TV is also broadcasting the game for those outside the state.

K-State Sports indicates that while all chair back and bench seats are sold out for Sunday’s game, standing room only tickets are still available.