PROVO, Utah – BYU baseball dropped the final game of its three-game Big 12 series to Kansas State, 13-4, on Saturday at Miller Park.
With the win, Kansas State improves to 28-20 on the year and 14-10 in conference play, while BYU falls to 22-23 and 7-17. The Wildcats scored 13 runs on 19 hits, while the Cougars plated four runs on nine hits.
BYU Highlights
Tate Gambill: 2-5 Run
Bryker Hurdsman: 1-3, RBI, 2B
Keoni Painter: 1-3, RBI
Luke Andersen: 1-4, RBI, 2B
K-State got out to a big lead early, scoring six runs in the first inning to take a commanding 6-0 lead. The Wildcats scored two more in the top of the second on two hits to increase its lead to 8-0
BYU got on the board in the bottom of the second with a lead-off double from Bryker Hurdsman, followed by an RBI single from Keoni Painter.
KSU picked up another run in the third on two hits before BYU scored two more runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 9-3. Hits by Tate Gambill and Luke Anderson, combined with an RBI from Hurdsman provided the offense for the Cougars in the third.
K-State scored two more runs in the sixth behind a two-run home run to push the lead to 11-3. The Cougars responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Painter got on base with a walk to lead off the inning, followed by a single from Brock Watkins with no outs. Following two outs, Goff singled to left field to bring Painter in and push the lead to 11-4.
The Wildcats scored two more runs in the top of the seventh behind three more hits for a final score of 13-4. BYU relief pitcher Ashton Johnson posted a new career high in pitches thrown with 46 on the afternoon over two and two-thirds innings.
On Deck
BYU heads to Kansas for a week-long road trip, facing Wichita State on Tuesday before heading to Lawrence for a Big 12 weekend series against Kansas. All of the games will be broadcast on ESPN+ and BYU Radio.