GAME 1: Six-Run Fourth Inning Secures Win for No. 24 Kentucky on Sunday Afternoon
The No. 24 Kentucky Wildcats capped off their time at the Karbach Round Rock Classic with an 8-5 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks in game one on Sunday thanks to a big fourth inning, highlighted by a three-run dinger from 2B Emilien Pitre.
Pitre led the Wildcats’ offensive efforts with a 2-for-4 showing at the plate while driving in three runs and drawing one walk.
“He’s a guy that we just trust when it matters…that guy impacts the game in so many ways – he impacted it today offensively and then on defense,” Kentucky Head Coach Nick Mingione said. “He’s just a special player.”
Kansas took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when 3B Michael Brooks kicked things off with a leadoff double. After finding third on a groundout, Brooks scored as LF Cooper Combs flied out. Kentucky evened things up in the top of the third when SS Grant Smith rounded the bases on a single, groundout, wild pitch and base knock from C Devin Burkes.
The Wildcats broke out thanks to a six spot in the fourth inning, with all of the runs coming after the first two outs were made. RF James McCoy, Smith and DH Ryan Waldschmidt all reached to load the bases and a triple from LF Patrick Herrera wiped them clean for a 4-1 lead. After a walk for Burkes, Pitre capped off the scoring with a three-run home run.
Jayhawks RF Lenny Ashby took advantage of a one-out walk in the bottom of the fifth frame and finished his trip around the bases when C Jake English singled, DH Janson Reeder walked and Brooks hit a sacrifice fly to make it a 7-2 game.
Kansas kept working at a comeback with three runs in the seventh. A solo shot to right field for Ashby led off the inning before Jayhawks loaded the bases thanks to a walk and two singles. PH Chase Jans sent one runner home and a sacrifice fly from Combs tacked on a third for a 7-5 score.
Kentucky put an exclamation mark on the day when Waldschmidt singled to send McCoy home and make it an 8-5 game, which held to be final. Wildcats LHP Evan Byers earned the win with three shutout innings and two punchouts to close the contest.
“I’ve been coaching college baseball for over 20 years, and this is the best-run event that I’ve ever been to,” Mingione said. “Everybody, from the time we showed up from the hotel to the time we showed up at the field, they have nailed every single detail and it says a lot. It makes me want to bring my team back and do another event. The people here at Peak Events, everybody that was associated with the event, I don’t know how they could’ve done a better job.”
The Cats finished the 2024 Karbach Round Rock Classic weekend with two wins while the Jayhawks claimed one.
GAME 2: Texas State Handles Washington State in Final Game of Karbach Round Rock Classic
The Texas State Bobcats plated 12 runs over two innings to help them claim a 13-4 win over the Washington State Cougars on Sunday night. Despite the loss, Washington State took home the 2024 Karbach Round Rock Classic title after earning two wins on the weekend and beating out No. 24 Kentucky in head-to-head competition.
“I would do a Peak Events event in a heartbeat,” Washington State Head Coach Nathan Choate said. “It’s been a first class event from everybody. From the hotel staff, to the people at the ballpark, the entire event feels like a regional.”
Washington State wasted no time on Sunday evening and took over for a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. DH Casen Taggart tripled in SS Kyle Russell and RF Alan Shibley, who both walked for the frame’s first runs. 3B Cole Cramer sent Taggart home with a single to round out the scoring.
Texas State plated its first run in the third when 3B Alex Gonzalez scored on a Washington State error after reaching base with a base knock.
The sixth inning saw action from both teams as the Cougars scored on a bases-loaded walk before the Bobcats plated nine runs, setting a new Karbach Round Rock Classic record for most runs scored in an inning.
LF Rashawn Galloway knocked a two-RBI single for Texas State before a single and hit batter loaded the bases. Two walks, a hit batter and a single sent four more runners home and kept the bases loaded for the Bobcats with a 7-4 lead and no outs. CF Ryne Farber joined the inning’s two-RBI club with a single down the left field line. C Chris Bernal scored on a sacrifice fly from 1B Alec Patino to close out the scoring as Texas State held a 10-4 advantage.
“Against good teams, it’s always one hit or one pitch away,” Texas State Head Coach Steven Trout said. “I thought tonight, when we finally got on the barrel and got the starter out of the game, then it was the patience game.”
The Bobcats kept the bats hot in the seventh when they loaded the bases on a double and two walks. Farber hit his second two-RBI single of the contest before Patino sent one home, making it a 13-4 game.
Texas State RHP Taylor Seay went home with the win after tallying one out in relief. Bobcat RHP Sam Hall closed things out on the mound and was awarded with a save after 3.0 scoreless innings that saw four strikeouts.
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