You couldn’t have planned a better start for Kansas State baseball in the Fayetteville Regional of the NCAA Tournament.
Despite the game lasting two days due to the weather in the area, the Wildcats handled business against Louisana Tech, 19-4. With the win, K-State will face Arkansas later today, starting at 8 pm downtown.
K-State’s bats made the difference in the opening. After an inconsistent end to the season, the Wildcats started the game by scoring seven runs in two innings. As a team, the Wildcats finished with 18 hits, including five home runs.
Here are three takeaways from K-State’s win.
KAELEN CULPEPPER SHINES
Great players make big plays in big games, and Kaelen Culpepper is a great player.
This season, Culpepper has emerged as one of the best players in the country. He is expected to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft and has been K-State’s most important bat throughout the season.
Over the two-day game, Culpepper totaled four hits in five at-bats, becoming the first K-State player to hit for the cycle since 2014. His four RBIs weren’t the difference in the score, but his triple in the second inning helped build a solid lead for the Wildcats.
For the Wildcats to have any chance against Arkansas, they’ll need Culpepper (and other players) to heat up, and a hot start against Louisiana Tech is an encouraging start.
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BULLPEN REMAINS STRONG
Starting pitcher Owen Boerema didn’t last as long as K-State had hoped, lasting just 4.1 innings before being replaced by Cole Wisenbaker.
While the bullpen having to pitch more than half the game was a concern, the run support made it less so. Instead of turning to an arm like Tyson Neighbors, the Wildcats turned to Dean Blake and Josh Wintroub, who held Louisiana Tech scoreless through four innings.
That’s ideal for K-State, which will only have a few hours before facing Arkansas. Now the Wildcats will be able to feel comfortable with their bullpen as the Neighbors and Wisenbaker have little wear on their arms.
PARSONS AND INGRAM GO
While K-State’s run will likely be determined by the duo of Kaelen Culpepper and Brady Day, getting solid performances from the secondary bats could be the difference.
Against Louisiana Tech, Jaden Parsons and Chuck Ingram combined for eight hits and nine RBIs as the duo got things moving early and often for the Wildcats.
Ingram kicked off the second inning, hitting a home run to extend Kansas State’s lead to three. Parsons quickly followed with an RBI single. Ingram would hit his second home run later in the game, while Parsons would hit one of his own.
Ingram and Parsons are unlikely to have games like this often, the Wildcats will need solid performances from other bats, as it’s unlikely (and unfair) to place expectations solely on Culpepper and Day.
