MANHATTAN, Kan. – Terrick Thompson-Allen homered twice for SIUE and the two teams combined for seven home runs as Kansas State slugged past the Cougars 14-5 in the opener of a three-game series at Tointon Family Stadium.

The Wildcats loaded the bases with nobody out in the first. A.J. Evasco then homered to right to put Kansas State up 4-0.

Terrick Thompson-Allen responded for the Cougars in the second inning, with a two-run home run to the opposite field to cut the lead to 4-2.

K State sent nine to the plate in the second inning and scored four more times. Ty Smolinski and Bear Madilak hit back-to-back home runs to start the inning.

SIUE starter Jase Phillips (1-2) allowed eight runs over just 1.2 innings. He walked one and struck out one.

Joshua Heyder connected for his first home run of the year, a two-run home run, in the top of the third to cut the lead back to four (8-4).

A single run in the third and two in the fourth made it 11-4 Wildcats.

Thompson-Allen hit his second home run of the game in the sixth inning to cut the lead to 11-5. He was the only SIUE player to finish with more than a single hit.

Madilak hit his second home run of the game, a three-run shot, in the seventh for the final.

Madilak and Evasco each finished with two hits for Kansas State.

The second game of the series is set for 4 p.m. Saturday.