Kansas State Homers Four Times Sunday to Take Game, Series From WVU

The West Virginia baseball team held a lead three times against Kansas State and all three times the Wildcats were able to come back.

The action started early Sunday afternoon as WVU first baseman Matt McCormick doubled home second baseman Tyler Doanes in the top of the first inning, giving the Mountaineers an early 1-0 lead. That lead lasted all of one batter, however, as Kansas State’s second hitter of the game, shortstop Nick Goodwin, erased the WVU lead with a home run to left field.

He got it all, and then some.

🚀 Nick Goodwin #KStateBSB x @NCAACWS pic.twitter.com/SRZJuqGqLO

— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) April 25, 2021

Starting on the mound for WVU was freshman left-hander Ben Hampton. Despite giving up the home in the bottom of the first, Hampton was more or less cruising through the early part of the game, racking up six strikeouts in the first three innings.

E3 | 6⃣ K's thru 3⃣ for the kid ⚔

WVU 3
KSU 1#HailWV pic.twitter.com/GGt9lPtY2W

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) April 25, 2021

The Mountaineers scored two more runs in the top of the third to go back up 3-1, but this lead, too, was short-lived. Kansas State came back in the bottom of the fouth and re-tied the game on a two-run home run by second baseman Kamron Willman.

WVU’s final lead of the game came in the top of the fifth, when left fielder Hudson Byorick scored on a wild pitch to put the Mountaineers up 4-3. After that, the Wildcats scored two runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to put the game away and win 9-4.

Hampton’s final line was five innings pitched, four earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Reliever Carlson Reed (1-4, 9.60) was credited with the loss, allowing three runs in one inning of work. KSU starter Carson Seymour lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with four walks. Kasey Ford (3-0, 1.56) got the win, pitching 6 1/3 innings of relief, allowing only one unearned run.

Four Wildcats went deep in Sunday’s game; Goodwin, Willman, left fielder Dylan Phillips and catcher Dylan Caplinger. WVU’s RBIs went to McCormick, designated hitter Vince Ippoliti and third baseman Kevin Brophy.

WVU falls to 15-18 with the loss, 6-9 in the Big 12. Kansas State improves to 23-16, 6-9 in the conference. West Virginia will not play a mid-week game this coming week and will return to action with a three-game series against TCU at home in Mon County Ballpark beginning on Friday, April 30. The Horned Frogs are 29-10 (12-3 Big 12) so far this season.