The Kansas State baseball team used a seven-run eighth inning to put the game well beyond reach in their 16-4 win against Northwestern State Tuesday afternoon at Tointon Family Stadium.
The Wildcats came into the game with a 9-2 record, their best start to a season since 2011. Senior Colton Kalmus got the starting nod on the mound for the Wildcats. Kalmus had a bit of a shaky outing; he went 4.2 innings and allowed four earned runs. The right-hander struck out four, but also walked four batters.
The pitching didn’t make a difference against the Demons because the Wildcats’ offense came through in a big way.
Senior Jake Scudder led the way. The first baseman drove in three runs, all on his home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sophomore catcher Josh Rolette and senior infielder Quintin Crandall also homered for the Wildcats.
The game wasn’t always a blowout. The Demons and Wildcats were tied at four after the Demons scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning. However, the game wouldn’t stay tied for long.
K-State answered with two of its own runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning, followed by three more in the sixth to put the Cats up 9-4.
The Wildcats then shut the door completely in the eighth inning with seven runs. Five different Wildcats drove in runs in the inning; the other two runs were scored on errors by the Demons.
The Cats improved to 10-2 on the season with the win. They will play the Demons one more time today at 3 p.m. at Tointon Family Stadium. Freshman pitcher Caleb LittleJim is set to take the mound for the Wildcats.
