Gutsy performance gets Cats passed Liberty 4-3.
This was the very type of game that we found a way to lose last season. We already have one more one run win this season than we did all of last season.
Offensively nothing really stood out today other than our ability to manufacture runs. The Cats notched their first run in the first inning, when cam thompson had a leadoff single, a Wodtke groundout advanced Thompson, who scored on a Scudder single. The cats didnt score again until the 5th when the Cats loaded the bases to start the inning. An Eithier strikeout and Thompson hitting a grounder to second that appeared to be a taylor made double play seemed like it would end the inning, but Thompson's speed beat the throw from second allowing one run to score. Hanz Harker later scored on a wildpitch. The 6th inning began with a Scudder leadoff double, who advanced to third on a wild pitched and scored on a Rolette single.
Senior Parker Rigler started on the mound and gave up 3 singles to the first 4 batters he faced with one run scoring. Rigler settled down for a little bit until the 4th when he walked/beamed 4 of the first 5 batters, walking in a run. Rigler then induced an inning ending doubleplay.
Rigler pitched 5 innings giving up 2 earned runs, 4 hits, 4 walks, and got the win. Freshman Kasey Ford replaced Rigler for the start of the 6th inning. He threw a scoreless inning and 2/3 giving up a walk, a hit, and striking out one. Nick Jones subbed Ford and gave up a hit in 2/3 an inning before being relieved by closer Jordan Floyd who got in trouble in the 9th after recording two quick outs. Floyd gave up a single, who advanced to second on a wild pitch that ended up scoring on an error. Floyd had a runner on second when he induced a game ending grounder. Floyd recorded his 4th save of the season.
There was no reason for Kstate to win this game tonight, Liberty out hit us 8 to 6, drew 3 more walks, and left 5 more runners on base. These are the type of games we need to continue to win if we want to have a succesful season.