After losing back-to-back weekend series against Arizona State and Utah, Kansas State came out on the prowl for a win. During the midweek matchup against Brigham Young University, the Wildcats went off, taking the game 16-3 and ending the game in the bottom of the eighth inning due to the mercy rule.
Due to six homers, including two each by Dee Kennedy and AJ Evasco, K-State got it done early and often, gaining confidence and starting a new win streak.
Stepping into the batter’s box for the first time, the Wildcats set the expectation for the rest of the game, scoring four runs to begin what would be 10 runs across five innings.
“Great effort by our guys today,” K-State head coach Pete Hughes said. “Our preparation didn’t change, and our energy was great again. Happy for our guys for getting the result.”
Kennedy started the ‘Cats bats as he homered, scoring Inoue Shintaro from first. Evasco would shortly follow, homering to right field and sending two baserunners home with him. The Cougars eventually stopped the hot streak, but allowed five runs on four hits.
The lefty starter, Robert Fortenberry, presided on the mound for three innings, striking out three batters, allowing one hit and one run.
“Robert Fortenberry was really good and was extremely efficient versus a dangerous offense,” Hughes said. “Our offense once again had a relentless performance. Again, proud of our guys and the way they show up every day.”
The only run allowed by Fortenberry came from Ezra McNaughton, who homered to right field in the bottom of the first. But that one run would inevitably be the only run BYU saw across five innings.
While the bats remained consistent for K-State, the team added onto its 4-2 lead after the first inning. Across the next four innings, doubles, steals and another homer from Evasco allowed the Wildcats to extend their lead, 10-1, going into the sixth inning.
BYU went to work on both sides, keeping K-State from scoring in the top of the sixth inning. Inside the box, the Cougars Easton Jones connected on Austin Haley’s pitch, hitting a two-run homer, trying to close the scoring gap 10-3.
The Wildcats would combat BYU’s performance, though, not allowing another Cougar to cross the plate. On offense, K-State scored six more across the seventh and eighth innings, including Kennedy and Evasco’s second homers of the day, extending the lead to 16-3 and ending the game in the eighth due to the run rule.
Haley took the win and moved to 2-0 on the season, and Aaron Arnold closed out the night over the last two frames. The righty allowed two hits and struck out three of the seven batters he faced.
K-State moves to 19-10 overall and 4-5 in conference play. The Wildcats return to Tointon Family Stadium for a series against TCU, starting on April 3 with first pitch at 6 p.m.
