Left-handed starter Lincoln Sheffield pitched a complete game, striking out 10 batters and allowing just one run as he anchored Kansas State to an 11-1 victory in eight innings.
Sheffield gave up just four hits in his outing, and the one run he conceded was a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. The senior lefty gave the Wildcats the best start of the season and set K-State up nicely to go for a series sweep on Sunday with the full bullpen available.
However, while Sheffield was shutting down Arizona, the purple-and-white clad Wildcats were struggling to put runs on the board themselves. After six innings, K-State trailed the home Wildcats, 1-0, its struggles mainly caused by Arizona starter Smith Bailey. The right-handed hurler was untouchable almost the whole night, going six innings and striking out 15 batters.
“That was as good a pitching performance as we’ve had against us since I’ve been the coach at Kansas State,” head coach Pete Hughes said. “Lincoln [Sheffield] was able to match that performance to allow our offense to stay in it and break through in the seventh and eighth innings.”
K-State was only able to muster one hit off Bailey, and the only thing slowing him down was his pitch count, which was at 99 after he recorded the last out of the sixth inning. With Bailey out, the visiting Wildcats regained life in their dugout and immediately made an impact against the Arizona bullpen.
With runners on first and second, Nick English hit a three-run home run to take the zero off the board for K-State and give them the lead 3-1, which they would take to the eighth. The Wildcats had production from unlikely players all year, and when they needed it most, they got more of it from Nick English, who has played sparingly this season.
“We get a big pinch-hit off the bench from an unselfish kid, Nick English, the ultimate team player,” Hughes said. “His mindset puts him in a good situation to come through for his team, and he changed the course of the game.”
As a freshman two years ago, English started in 57 games and was a key contributor to the super regional team. However, last season he struggled mightily as he was projected to be a top player for the Wildcats, but fell out of the lineup as Big 12 play started.
If English can continue to get back to his ways from freshman year, his bat could be a key piece coming down the stretch of Big 12 play and could deliver some big moments, like he did Saturday night against Arizona.
After taking the lead late, K-State was looking to pounce on the Wildcats and tack on some more runs in the eighth inning. The visiting Wildcats did just as they scored eight runs in the inning, which was capped off by a Dee Kennedy grand slam, pushing the K-State lead up to 10, 11-1.
Kennedy’s slam was his 16th home run of the season, which ties the junior single-season record for most in a season. Kennedy is having an all-American type of year and has many more accolades on the way by the conclusion of the season.
“Dee is an elite player, and you know he doesn’t stay in ruts very long now,” Hughes said. “He’s earning everything that comes his way, and he’s still having success. Not only does he get the big grand slam, but he’s hitting home runs and stealing bases for us, and he’s as dynamic a defender as you’ll see in college baseball.”
The win over Arizona was similar to their win the night before, as K-State took the lead late. However, on Friday night, the Wildcats scored just two runs and squeaked by with a 2-1 victory. This time, K-State didn’t keep it so close and added plenty of insurance runs for their starter, Lincoln Sheffield.
The Wildcats now seem to have some of their mojo back after a home loss to Omaha on Tuesday night. K-State will be back in action on Sunday, April 19th, as they go for the series sweep over Arizona with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
