Baseball Falls in Opener at Kansas State

The Central Connecticut baseball team fell at Kansas State, 6-4, in the opener of a three-game series on Saturday at Tointon Family Stadium. The teams combined for four homeruns, while the Wildcats scored three runs in the eighth inning for the difference.

The Blue Devils and Wildcats wrap up the series with a doubleheader on Sunday.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 3, KANSAS STATE 6
Pitching Record: W: Ruhl (1-1) | L: Reyes (1-2| Sv: - -
Records: CCSU (3-2), K-State (5-7)
Location: Tointon Family Stadium | Manhattan, KS

KEY MOMENTS

• The teams exchanged runs in the third inning to open the scoring. Sophomore Jeff Nicol gave CCSU the lead with a solo homerun in the top of the inning to make it 1-0. In the bottom of the inning Kansas State put runners on first and second with nobody out, before having a would-be base stealer cut down at third for the first out. After a fly out, Jeff Heinrich would hit a two-out, two-run homerun to left center to make it 2-1.
• KSU added to the lead in the fourth with a solo homerun by Josh Nicoloff to lead off the fourth.
• Central would put runners on second and third with one out in the fifth, but came away without a run. In the sixth, senior Sam Loda led off with a walk before moving to third after a wild pitch and a single. He would score on a throwing error to make it 3-2.
• In the top of the eighth CCSU load the bases with no outs. Sophomore Elliot Good would plate Loda with a ground out to first to tie the game. In the bottom of the inning, Dominic Johnson led off for the Wildcats with a solo homerun to make it 4-3. K-State would tack on two more runs after loading the bases with one out. Justin Mitchell and  Cole Johnson each drove in a run to make it 6-3.

NOTES

• Sophomore Dominic Niman started for CCSU and tossed 6.0 innings. He scattered seven hits, while striking out three and walking one. He was charged with three runs allowed.
• Sophomore Michael Torniero went 3-for-4. He has gone 6-of-9 at the plate in the last three games for the Blue Devils.
• Good had two hits and an RBI for the Blue Devils.
• Sophomore TJ Wainwright tossed .1 inning and recorded a strikeout. In 1.1 innings this season, he has recorded four strikeouts.
• Central stranded 12 runners in the game, while Kansas State left just five.
• Junior Noah Martinez had his streak of reaching base ended at 24 consecutive games dating back to last season. 

UP NEXT

The teams wrap up the series with a doubleheader on Sunday. The first game has a scheduled first pitch of 2:00 p.m.