Wildcats finish four-game series today in California.
The Kansas St. Baseball team opened its 2019 season by dropping two out of three road games against Cal. St. Northridge.
The four-game series will conclude today before the Wildcats continue their season-opening 8-game West Coast swing. On Wednesday, the ‘Cats will go against Division 1 newcomer Cal Baptist (4-0). Then K-State will play three games in three days (Fri-Sun) in The Tony Gwynn Legacy Classic. The foes will be Fresno St., Utah, and home-standing San Diego St.
The Wildcats are looking to bounce back this season from a sub-par 2018 when they were 23-31 overall and 5-19 in the Big 12–last in the league.
Game 1: The Wildcats fell 10-8. The game was tied 4-4 after five innings before heavy rains pushed the conclusion of the game to Saturday. The Wildcats came out strong on Saturday, scoring four runs in the top of the 6th to take an 8-4 lead. But K-State couldn’t hold the lead, giving up two in the sixth and, then, a back-breaking four in the 8th to fall by the final score of 10-8. Pre-season first-team and all-conference P/OF Will Brennan led the way offensively for the Wildcats with three hits and an RBI. Third baseman Caleb Littlejim hit his first college home run. Ace Tyler Eckberg pitched five innings, giving up four runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out nine.
‘Cats celebrate during Game 2 (photo, K-State Athletics)
Game 2: The Wildcats bounced back, 6-5, in Game Two. K-State got off to a 3-1 lead on a home run by Dylan Phillips, but CSUN tied the game at 3-3 with two runs in the 7th. With the game tied in the 9th, Will Brennan and Terrence hit homers to take the lead, but the team had to scramble to win. CSUN stranded the game-tying run on 2nd base to end the game. Freshman lefty Jordan Wicks got his first collegiate start, going five innings and giving up only one run on six hits while walking none and striking out seven. Caleb Littlejim got the win in relief (1-0), while senior Mitch Zubradt picked up a one-out save.
Game 3: The Wildcats couldn’t carry momentum into Sunday’s game, losing 4-2. K-State’s offense came in the first inning when the Wildcats scored two runs, but that lead was short-lived. In the bottom half of the frame, CSUN took a 3-2 lead and added an insurance run in the 8th when the Wildcats couldn’t handle a groundball that would have ended the inning. The Wildcats played sloppily, including Will Brennan who was picked off 1st base twice in key spots. Offensively, the Wildcats hit their 4th home run of the series when the coach’s son, Thomas Hughes, led off the game with a solo shot. Brennan (0-1) got the start for the Wildcats and went a solid six innings, giving up three runs on three hits while walking two and striking out six.
In today’s series finale, Kasey Ford will be on the mound for the Wildcats. Other ‘Cat stats of note:
– K-State has struck out 33 CSUN batters while walking 12.
– Will Brennan went 7-11 in the first three games with a double, home run, three walks, and two stolen bases.
– The Wildcats have already hit four home runs in their first three games. They hit 45 in all of 2018.
