Kansas State University Athletics
Friday, March 14
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Cats Walk Off Utah in Big 12 Opener Friday Night
Mar 15, 2025 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – With back-to-back blasts by Shintaro Inoue and Bear Madliak, K-State rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk off Utah, 7-6, in the Big 12 opener at Tointon Family Stadium Friday night.
"That was a really good baseball game," said head coach Pete Hughes on his team's fourth straight win at home. "That's your classic Friday night Big 12 Conference game with two really good pitchers."
In the first conference meeting between the two schools, K-State (10-7, 1-0 Big 12) carried a 2-1 lead into the sixth inning behind starter Jacob Frost. After four scoreless innings, Utah (11-6, 0-1 Big 12) plated five runs in a three-inning span to stretch out to a three-run lead and back Colter McAnelly's seven-inning start.
Down 6-4, Inoue launched the game-tying home run that scored Keegan O'Connor, who led off the inning with a double into left center. With the score tied at six, Madliak barreled a 3-1 pitch, sending out his second home run of the season to capture K-State's third consecutive Big 12 opening win.
"Scoring opportunities can be hard to come by, so it's crucial to execute in those tight Friday night games. We played great team defense and got the big hits at the end. So, a really good one for our program. It puts us in a good situation moving forward with a lot of momentum to win the series. I'm proud of our guys and proud of our fight," Hughes added.
Frost allowed just two hits in the first inning, before retiring 12 consecutive batters. The senior left-hander surrendered four earned runs on four hits in his no-decision effort, matching a career-high six strikeouts and walking three.
McAnelly, who logged 103 pitches in his seven-inning start, scattered just two hits in the opening frame before retiring 16 straight batters to allow Utah to build its lead. McAnelly ended the night allowing four earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and one walk, before handing the ball over to Cameron Neilson. Neilson (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing the final three runs of the game.
Sophomore James Guyette (1-1) was awarded his first collegiate victory, after taking over for reliever Adam Arther in eighth, who retired all three batters he faced.
In the last meeting between the two squads in 2020, Utah rallied to scrape across two runs in the bottom of the ninth disrupt a no-hit bid and walk off K-State.
Seven different Wildcats contributed Friday led by multi-hit efforts from Kyan Lodice and Dee Kennedy. Lodice went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Kennedy was 2-for-3 with one run batted in.
AJ Evasco, a true freshman out of Lincoln, Neb., totaled a game-high three RBI – his third multi-RBI performance of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After an hour-long delay due to a high wind warning, Utah plated a run in the opening frame with an RBI-single through the right side but was immediately answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.
Leadoff Nick English was issued a walk and came across the plate on Dee Kennedy's double into center field. K-State took the lead in the next at bat with a groundout to second from Evasco, scoring Kyan Lodice from third.
Utah sent seven to the plate in the sixth, scoring three runs to take a 4-2 lead.
After five scoreless innings, the Wildcats cut the Utes' lead to one, 4-3. Kyan Lodice doubled down the left field line to win an 11-pitch at bat and advanced to third on a single through the left side by Kennedy. With one out, Evasco lined the first pitch he faced into center, allowing Lodice to score.
Utah rallied for two runs in the eighth to expand their lead to three, 6-3, until Evasco delivered a two-out RBI single into right field to bring the game back within two.
Trailing 6-4, O'Connor fueled the Cats' rally as the left fielder doubled into left center to lead off the bottom of the inning. Inoue immediately leveled the score, launching a first-pitch home run to left field. The game-tying home run was followed by Madliak's solo blast to left field to secure the Cats first conference win of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX
Game two against the Utes is slated for a 4 p.m. first pitch at Tointon Family Stadium. The entire series will broadcast on ESPN+, while a free live streaming audio available for all games at KStateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app. Season and single-game tickets are now available. To purchase tickets, fans can visit KStateSports.com, call 1-800-221-CATS (2287), or stop by the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
– k-statesports.com –
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Baseball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
"That was a really good baseball game," said head coach Pete Hughes on his team's fourth straight win at home. "That's your classic Friday night Big 12 Conference game with two really good pitchers."
In the first conference meeting between the two schools, K-State (10-7, 1-0 Big 12) carried a 2-1 lead into the sixth inning behind starter Jacob Frost. After four scoreless innings, Utah (11-6, 0-1 Big 12) plated five runs in a three-inning span to stretch out to a three-run lead and back Colter McAnelly's seven-inning start.
Down 6-4, Inoue launched the game-tying home run that scored Keegan O'Connor, who led off the inning with a double into left center. With the score tied at six, Madliak barreled a 3-1 pitch, sending out his second home run of the season to capture K-State's third consecutive Big 12 opening win.
"Scoring opportunities can be hard to come by, so it's crucial to execute in those tight Friday night games. We played great team defense and got the big hits at the end. So, a really good one for our program. It puts us in a good situation moving forward with a lot of momentum to win the series. I'm proud of our guys and proud of our fight," Hughes added.
Frost allowed just two hits in the first inning, before retiring 12 consecutive batters. The senior left-hander surrendered four earned runs on four hits in his no-decision effort, matching a career-high six strikeouts and walking three.
McAnelly, who logged 103 pitches in his seven-inning start, scattered just two hits in the opening frame before retiring 16 straight batters to allow Utah to build its lead. McAnelly ended the night allowing four earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and one walk, before handing the ball over to Cameron Neilson. Neilson (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing the final three runs of the game.
Sophomore James Guyette (1-1) was awarded his first collegiate victory, after taking over for reliever Adam Arther in eighth, who retired all three batters he faced.
In the last meeting between the two squads in 2020, Utah rallied to scrape across two runs in the bottom of the ninth disrupt a no-hit bid and walk off K-State.
Seven different Wildcats contributed Friday led by multi-hit efforts from Kyan Lodice and Dee Kennedy. Lodice went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Kennedy was 2-for-3 with one run batted in.
AJ Evasco, a true freshman out of Lincoln, Neb., totaled a game-high three RBI – his third multi-RBI performance of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After an hour-long delay due to a high wind warning, Utah plated a run in the opening frame with an RBI-single through the right side but was immediately answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.
Leadoff Nick English was issued a walk and came across the plate on Dee Kennedy's double into center field. K-State took the lead in the next at bat with a groundout to second from Evasco, scoring Kyan Lodice from third.
Utah sent seven to the plate in the sixth, scoring three runs to take a 4-2 lead.
After five scoreless innings, the Wildcats cut the Utes' lead to one, 4-3. Kyan Lodice doubled down the left field line to win an 11-pitch at bat and advanced to third on a single through the left side by Kennedy. With one out, Evasco lined the first pitch he faced into center, allowing Lodice to score.
Utah rallied for two runs in the eighth to expand their lead to three, 6-3, until Evasco delivered a two-out RBI single into right field to bring the game back within two.
Trailing 6-4, O'Connor fueled the Cats' rally as the left fielder doubled into left center to lead off the bottom of the inning. Inoue immediately leveled the score, launching a first-pitch home run to left field. The game-tying home run was followed by Madliak's solo blast to left field to secure the Cats first conference win of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX
- K-State scored seven runs on nine hits, committed no errors and left four on base.
- Utah plated six runs on 10 hits with one error and stranded six runners on base.
- K-State rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth to complete the comeback.
- Seven different players contributed a hit, led by Lodice (2-for-4) and Kennedy (2-for-3).
- Evasco drove in a game-leading three RBI followed by Inoue (2).
- UU's McAnelly went seven innings, surrendering four earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in his start.
- Frost logged 5 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits with a season-high six strikeouts.
- Dean allowed two runs in his 2 1/3 innings in relief while Arther and Guyette combined for 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
- Guyette (1-1) earned the win.
- Nielson (2-1) was credited with the loss, allowing three runs on four hits over his one inning of work.
- K-State was 5-for-12 (.417) with men on base while UU was 5-for-14 (.357)
- Both teams hit .500 with runners in scoring position – K-State 4-for-8, UU 5-for-10.
- In the last meeting between the two squads, Utah scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk off the Cats and disrupt a no-hit bid from Jordan Wicks and Tyler Eckberg (Feb. 23, 2020).
- K-State leads the all-time series 6-1, while Friday marks the first meeting between the two schools in Big 12 play and first in Manhattan.
- The Cats move to 4-0 at home during the 2025 season – 104-42 all-time under Hughes.
- K-State is 6-2 when scoring in the first inning.
- In the last 10 Big 12 openers, K-State is 3-7 with three straight conference opening victories – 3-3 overall under Hughes.
- The Cats have recorded six back-to-back home run performances this season.
- Evasco and Inoue each turned in their third multi-RBI game of the year.
- English hit leadoff for the second time of the season and 10th of his career.
- Kennedy stretched his hitting streak to five and on-base streak to eight with his double in the first.
- Inoue hit his third home run in a K-State uniform, Madliak his second.
- Guyette picked up his first collegiate win, while Frost matched a career-high six strikeouts.
Game two against the Utes is slated for a 4 p.m. first pitch at Tointon Family Stadium. The entire series will broadcast on ESPN+, while a free live streaming audio available for all games at KStateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app. Season and single-game tickets are now available. To purchase tickets, fans can visit KStateSports.com, call 1-800-221-CATS (2287), or stop by the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
– k-statesports.com –
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Baseball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Guyette, James (1-1)
L: Nielson, Cameron (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Quinn, Tyler 1 ; Carpenter, Kaden 1
3B: Flaharty, Matt 1
HR: Roellig, Austen 1
RBI: Gurney, Cameron 2 ; Roellig, Austen 3 ; Carpenter, Kaden 1
SH: Gurney, Cameron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Flaharty, Matt 1 ; Jackson, Core 1 ; Quinn, Tyler 3 ; Roellig, Austen 1
SB: Jackson, Core 1
CS: Digiorno, Drake 1
HBP: Jackson, Core 1
Batting:
2B: Lodice, Kyan 1 ; Kennedy, Dee 1 ; O'Connor, Keegan 1
HR: Inoue, Shintaro 1 ; Madliak, Bear 1
RBI: Kennedy, Dee 1 ; Evasco, AJ 3 ; Inoue, Shintaro 2 ; Madliak, Bear 1
SF: Evasco, AJ 1
Base Running:
RUNS: English, Nick 1 ; Lodice, Kyan 2 ; O'Connor, Keegan 1 ; Inoue, Shintaro 1 ; Madliak, Bear 1 ; Bishop, David 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
LHP
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C/OF
/ Baseball
LHP
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RHP
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INF
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/ BaseballINF/OF
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/ BaseballC
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