MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State used a six-run fifth inning to surge ahead and went on to an 8-4 win over SIUE baseball in the second game of a three-game series.

The Cougars trailed 1-0 when Chase Bloomer connected for his first home run of the year, a 397-foot three-run shot to left, to put the Cougars in front 3-1.

SIUE dropped to 5-10 with its third straight loss. Kansas State improved to 10-4.

K-State cut the lead to 3-2 with a run in the fourth.

The Wildcats then used four hits and three walks in the fifth to score six times to take control at 8-3. Micah Kendrick hit a three-run home run for the big blow for Kansas State.

SIUE starter Tim Teixeira started the inning before Wyatt Doak pitched two-thirds of the inning, allowing three runs. Joseph Martin finished the inning.

Teixeira worked four full innings allowing four runs on six hits. He walked five and struck out four.

Martin worked 2.1 innings, allowing a run. Noah Thompson pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout.

The Cougars got a run back in the ninth when Brendan Fry tripled with one out and then scored on a single by Kannon Kamp. SIUE left the bases loaded when the game ended.

The Cougars finished with five hits. Daniel Gierer finished 2-3.

The two teams will play the series finale Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Tointon Family Stadium.