A strong Kansas State team bested the Creighton baseball team over the weekend, as the Jays dropped the final two games by scores of 5-8 and 2-8 after winning the series opener 4-3.
The series loss moved the Jays to 12-9-1 on the season as they continue to play a tough stretch of frequent games before starting conference play on April 11.
In the rubber match on Sunday at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha the Jays were faced with a depleted bullpen and were forced to rely on two pitchers to carry the team against the potent Kansas State offense.
Sophomore pitcher Taylor Elman got the nod for the Jays, and started out strong, striking out four while allowing one run off of four hits in his first three innings while the Jays jumped out to a 2-1 lead.
The Jays’ lead came courtesy of senior outfielder Mike Gerber who homered to left field to bring in junior infielder Jake Peter in the bottom of the third inning. After stranding two runners in each of the first two innings, the Jays finally capitalized to take the lead off of Gerber’s fifth bomb of the year.
Elman retired the first batter in the top of the fourth before a controversial walk led to a rough inning for the Jays. Elman hit the next batter with a pitch before a double, single and an error helped the Wildcats out to a 4-2 lead.
A run in the sixth extended the Wildcat lead to three runs and ended the afternoon for Elman, who dropped to 1-3 after allowing five runs off of seven hits and two walks while striking out six.
The Jays went to sophomore Nick Highberger for the final three innings of the game. Highberger’s first two innings were strong before three hits and an error propelled the Wildcats to three runs in the final inning of the game. He allowed five hits and a walk with only one earned run in his relief appearance.
Peter went 3 for 4 with a run, while Gerber finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run.
“In order for us to score some runs those two guys have to hit,” head coach Ed Servais said. “They’re not .250-type hitters and they’ve proven at this level for the last several years… They both showed what they’re capable of doing today, and we need to see that on a little more consistent basis.”
On Saturday the teams piled on the runs, with the story being the middle of the lineup for the Wildcats. The No. 3, 4, and 5 hitters for the Wildcats combined to go 7 for 9 with six RBIs, three runs, and four walks in the game.
“They’re really top-heavy in their lineup,” Peter said. “We knew they were gonna have a challenge with those guys. They got their hits when they needed them and they executed the game well.”
The Jays never led in the game, and both teams scored in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Sophomore Austin Groth started on the mound for the Jays, and allowed five runs off of seven hits and three walks while striking out two in 4 1/3 innings pitched.
The bullpen, typically a staple of success for the Jays, struggled in the game. They only allowed four hits in the final 4 2/3 innings but also walked five batters as the Wildcats managed to score three runs. Highberger was strong in his final 1 2/3 inning, not allowing a hit or walk while striking out one.
Sophomore infielder Reagan Fowler led the way on offense for the Jays, going 2 for 4 with two runs. Freshman infielder Nicky Lopez was the other Jays player with two hits, and he also added an RBI and a walk. Senior outfielder Brad McKewon finished with one hit and two runs in the leadoff position.
The Jays took the series opener on Friday as sophomore pitcher Matt Warren moved to 5-0 on the season. Warren allowed an unearned run off of five hits and two walks while striking out two in 6 1/3 innings of work.
The Jays struck first, plating two runs in the fourth inning. Sophomore outfielder Brett Murray drove in the runs off of a single after Gerber and Fowler got on base via a single and error, respectively.
The Wildcats responded with one run in the top of the sixth, but the Jays added another two runs in the bottom half of the inning to gain the 4-1 edge. A bases loaded walk to go along with two runs and an error helped produce the two-run inning for the Jays. However, the team left the bases loaded to end the inning.
After junior pitcher Max Ising and sophomore Will Bamesberger got the Jays to the bottom of the eighth, senior Bryan Sova took over for the potential final four outs of the game.
Sova allowed three singles and hit a batter before recording the first out of the ninth inning. With runners on second and third and a one run lead, sophomore John Oltman took over to try and close out the game. After intentionally walking the first batter to load the bases, Oltman induced a line out and fly out to left field to end the game and picked up his first save of the season in the 4-3 win.
“These games are gonna make us better,” Servais said. “Even though they’re disappointed right now and we’re all disappointed because we prefer winning series… When you look at the big picture you want to play these games in preparation for what you need to do in the league.”