Wildcats’ Comeback Falls Short in Beaumont
K-State’s win streak came to an end on Wednesday night after coming up short in 4-3 thriller against Lamar at Vincent-Beck Stadium giving the Wildcats their first loss of the season.
The Wildcats move to 4-1 during preseason action while Lamar stretches its win streak out to five. Cardinals’ Jeremy Rivera (1-0) was awarded the victory with Daniel Cole receiving his first save while German Fajardo (0-1) was credited the loss.
“Tonight was a disappointing game, but credit goes to Lamar,” said Pete Hughes. “They were more disciplined tonight. They kept the ball out of the air, executed their bunts, and made all the big plays and pitches. When you win in those areas, you usually end up on the right side of the one-run games.
“Mason Buss was really good tonight and so were Tyson Neighbors and Shay Hartis. They came in and pitched well enough for us to come back and win. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the big hit.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the first time on the season, the Cats fell behind early after Lamar grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second. Kevin Bermudez singled through the 5-6 hole to tab the first run of the game to the board until a high ball into center doubled the Cardinals lead.
K-State snapped the shutout in the third with back-to-back hits from Raphael Pelletier and Cash Rugely. Pelletier, a product of Quebec, Canada, led off the inning with a double into right field before Rugely found the green with a ball through the left side to put runners on first and third. With no outs, Brendan Jones put one deep into center to bring in Pelletier.
Lamar immediately responded in the second half of the inning after plating two runs to make it a 4-1 ball game. Leadoff batter Ryan Snell landed on second with hard hit ball deep into left center until the junior came around with a single to right. With bases loaded, the Cardinals brought in the final run with a hard hit to short but the Cats’ sixth double play of the season ended the threat.
After a scoreless fourth, Roberto Pena led off with a shot right back at right-hander Antonio Escano before moving up 90-feet on a passed ball to land in scoring position. The senior crossed the plate with a single through left side by Pelletier to chip at the Cardinals lead, 4-2.
Pelletier would come up big for the third time of the night when the redshirt sophomore sent his first home run of the season deep and out into right field to make it a one-run game.
Unable to level the score, K-State would ultimately fall 4-3 in the non-conference contest.
INSIDE THE BOX
- K-State scored three earned runs on nine hits with two walks and seven strikeouts
- Five pitchers saw time on the mound for the Wildcats with newcomer Trae Robertson making his K-State debut in the third
- Freshman Mason Buss led the bullpen with 3.2 shutout innings with four hits, three strikeouts and one walk
- Pelletier produced a game- and career-high three hits going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI
- Pitching
- The Wildcats bottom half of the order was responsible for five of the team’s nine hits
NOTES
- Lamar grabbed its fourth win in the all-time series, snapping K-States five-game win streak with the Cats leading 6-4
- The Wildcats continue to lead the Big 12 in homeruns with 11 which ranks fifth nationally
- Pelletier recorded his first multi-hit game of the season and third overall at K-State
Original source can be found here.
