MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State scored the final five runs of Friday’s series opener with Missouri State to hand the Bears a 7-3 loss at Tointon Family Stadium.
Zack Stewart launched his eighth home run of the season to give the Bears (9-7) a 1-0 lead in the opening frame, but Missouri State was put in a tough position shortly thereafter as ace Brandt Thompson struck out the first batter he faced but was hit in the forearm with a line drive from the next hitter and had to leave the game in the opening frame.
Kansas State (11-6) evened the score with an RBI double in the third and took a 2-1 lead with a solo homer in the fourth.
The Bears scored in each of the next two innings to regain the lead, with Nick Rodriguez driving in Tyler Epstein with an RBI triple in the fifth, and Dylan Leach doubling and scoring on a two-bagger from Jahlani Rogers in the sixth to make it 3-2.
It was all Wildcats after that, who racked up five runs on six hits in the sixth inning and beyond against a pitching staff that entered the game allowing a .195 opposing average this season in those innings.
K-State put two in scoring position with none out in the sixth and eventually scored three runs, added a leadoff homer in the seventh, then finished the scoring by taking home on a double steal attempt that resulted in the runner being caught at second, one of two Wildcats caught by Leach in the seventh inning.
That 7-3 lead was more than enough for KSU’s Jackson Wentworth, who struck out seven and retired all nine batters he faced in the final three innings.
Kansas State’s 11 hits tied the most allowed by the Bears in a game this season.
Rodriguez, Leach and Epstein all had two hits for Missouri State, with Rodriguez extending his hitting streak to 16 games.
Game two of the series is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday.
