Owen Boerema pitches Kansas State baseball to Big 12 elimination win over West Virginia

Four batters into Kansas State's Big 12 Tournament elimination game against West Virginia, there was legitimate concern whether Wildcat starter Owen Boerema would get out of the first inning.

Turns out the Mountaineers should have finished him off when they had the chance.

After a shaky first inning, Boerema was nearly unhittable the rest of the way and sixth-seeded K-State's offense used a big inning of its own Wednesday morning to turn back No. 4 West Virginia, 8-4, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

With the victory, K-State improved to 32-22 and will face No. 9 seed TCU in another 9 a.m. elimination game Thursday. TCU (32-20), lost to top-seeded Oklahoma on Wednesday.

Boerema (6-3), K-State's No. 1 weekend starter during Big 12 play, gave up three runs in the first inning against West Virginia as the first four Mountaineers reached base safely on three hits and a hit batter. But he settled in to retire the next eight and allowed four hits over the next eight innings while striking out 10 and walking two.

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K-State, which managed one run against Kansas on Tuesday, finally broke out in the fourth inning, scoring seven runs on four hits while sending 13 batters to the plate. The big hits were Brady Day's two-run bases-loaded double, followed by a two-run single from David Bishop.

Here are three takeaways from the Wildcats' bounce-back win, which can only enhance their NCAA Tournament resume.

Iron man Owen Boerema gives bullpen the day off

Not only did Boerema become the first pitcher in K-State history to throw a complete game in the conference tournament, but he gave the Wildcats a needed day off. They used four pitchers Tuesday against Kansas.

"Life in the losers bracket is all about surviving, advancing, not panicking, having people pick up each other and saving your bullpen," K-State coach Pete Hughes said.

It was the longest career outing for Boerema, and his 10 strikeouts were a school record for a single conference tournament game.

Patience was a virtue for Wildcat batters

The big hits by Day and Bishop in the fourth inning gave K-State the lead, but just as important was the Wildcats' patience at the plate. They drew six walks in the inning, including two with the bases loaded, and walked 11 times against six West Virginia pitchers.

"Obviously, the key to that whole game was Owen’s performance, absolutely, number one," Hughes said. "Number two, not panicking early in the game and trusting your offense and being super disciplined at the plate, getting the walk to be a weapon for us again and take advantage of the inning. These are the things we haven't done of late."

Wildcats settle into breakfast routine

The luck of the draw has Kansas State in the top half of the tournament bracket, which means the earlier games. But Thursday's game will mark the Wildcats' third 9 a.m. start in as many days after never beginning before noon central time all year.

Should the Wildcats ward off elimination again against TCU, they would be right back in the same time slot on Friday.

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State baseball fights off elimination in Big 12 Tournament win