Culpepper Drives in Four, Wildcats Top Bears Wednesday

SPRINGFIELD, MO. (K-State) – Junior shortstop Kaelen Culpepper drove in a season-high four runs, as K-State picked up an 8-4 victory over Missouri State at Hammons Field on a chilly Wednesday afternoon to complete the season series sweep.

“Really happy with today’s effort,” head coach Pete Hughes said. “It’s hard to truly travel in the midweek and play effectively, especially when the conditions aren’t ideal to play in. However, nothing was a distraction for our guys, our energy and our performance tonight.”

In a game that was originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and was moved due to cold temperatures, K-State (19-8) jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead until Missouri State (11-16) used a three-run sixth to close the gap to one. The Wildcats immediately responded with three unanswered runs in the seventh led by Culpepper’s 22nd career home run to put the game away.

“Kaelan was awesome and carried us today offensively with some really mature at bats,” said Hughes.

Culpepper, who was a short a double of hitting the cycle, finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and a walk. The preseason all-American registered the biggest hit of the game in the second with a two-out, two-run single.

“Solid job by our pitching staff. Jackson Wentworth, Mason Buss, and Tyson Neighbors were awesome at the end. Blake Dean was able to open up and pitch really well in the starter role.”

Eight pitchers made an appearance on the mound in the midweek with Dean earning the win in his first collegiate start (2-2). The true freshman from Acworth, Ga., scattered just one hit in his two innings of work, as he retired six of the seven batters he faced.

Wentworth, Buss, and Neighbors shut out the Bears in the final 3 2/3 innings and combined for eight of the Wildcats 11 strikeouts. Neighbors used 17 pitches to strike out the side and close the game, as all three strikeouts were looking.

The Wildcats drove in four two-out RBI in the win and stole a season-high eight bases to bring the season total to a league-high 72.

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