WVU Baseball Falls to Kansas State on Road 7-1

WVU baseball fell to the Kansas State Wildcats 7-1 on the road Saturday.

West Virginia’s offense went cold, managing just hits on the day. Mountaineers’ starter Blaine Traxel limited traffic on the bases, keeping the game within reach, but the team couldn’t overcome five solo home runs by the Wildcats.

Kansas State starter German Fajardo went seven innings, allowing just one run on three hits. 

The Wildcats broke the ice 1-0 in the second inning when second baseman Brady Day homered to center.

Kansas State doubled the lead to 2-0 in the third with another leadoff bomb, this one off the bat of first baseman Roberto Pena.

Catcher Dayne Leonard began the fourth with a single for the Mountaineers. Left fielder Landon Wallace barely missed a game-tying opposite field homer with two outs, instead settling for a triple that made it 2-1. 

Mid 4 | Mountaineers 1, Wildcats 2@landonwallace just misses tying the game, but still drives in a run with a triple!#HailWV pic.twitter.com/n9MYTg5kIK

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) April 1, 2023

First baseman Grant Hussey struck out to end the threat.

Kansas State reestablished a two run lead in the fifth with another solo shot, this time from catcher Raphael Pelletier.

Wildcats’ left fielder Cole Johnson began the seventh with a double. A sacrifice bunt moved him over, and he scored on a sacrifice fly from Pelletier to make it 4-1.

Kansas State hit two more solo shots in the eighth, this time from designated hitter Dom Hughes and shortstop Nick Goodwin.

The Wildcats got into the Mountaineers’ bullpen and promptly walked the bases loaded, making it 7-1 with another free pass.

WVU baseball moves to 20-7 on the season (1-1 Big 12). With the series tied 1-1, they’ll play for the series win at 2pm EDT Sunday, with Grant Siegel on the mound.