Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, March 15
Manhattan, Kan.
4 p.m.
Kansas State University
11-7, 0
13
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11-7, 0
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7
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9
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Utah
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0
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11
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Kansas State
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1
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X
13
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2
Cats Win Series Behind Three Home Runs, Quevedo’s Quality Start
Mar 15, 2025 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Wildcats used three home runs to back Michael Quevedo's quality start and clinch their first Big 12 series of the season, as K-State topped Utah, 13-2, Saturday afternoon at Tointon Family Stadium.
"Well, obviously a convincing win, really good overall performance by our guys to win a series in the opening weekend of the Big 12," stated head coach Pete Hughes. "It's a big component when you're trying to build a resume to play really well in conferences. That's the first question that comes up when people look at your body of work. So, it was great to start with a series win."
Three Wildcats (11-7, 2-0 Big 12) homered in K-State's fifth straight win at home, starting with a two-run homer from catcher Bear Madliak – his second of the series. Maximus Martin, the Golden Spikes and Brooks Wallace Award National Player of the Week, would stretch the Cats' lead to eight with his second grand slam of the season. Keegan O'Connor recorded the third home run of the game with his leadoff solo blast in the fourth.
"It's all predicated off a good starting pitch. [Michael Quevedo] was outstanding today. Allowed us to build the lead. He did a good job during those long offensive innings, staying fresh and keeping his body moving. That's a big challenge when you have those innings that go over 20 minutes when you're at the plate for a starting pitcher."
Quevedo (3-0) produced his first quality outing in his fifth start as a Wildcat, after holding the Utes (11-7, 0-2 Big 12) to two earned runs on eight hits over six frames. The senior left-hander fanned seven batters and scattered eight hits without allowing a walk.
"He did a great job with that. And again, you look at a stat line, zero walks, that's always going to give you a chance to beat somebody. He was awesome today and kept that momentum in our dugout."
In relief of Quevedo, lefty Brody Roe fired three scoreless innings to pick up his first save in a K-State uniform, while limiting the Utes to three hits.
True freshman AJ Evasco was 3-for-5 with an RBI, recording his third multi-hit game of the season. In addition to Evasco, Dee Kennedy, O'Connor, and Martin each recorded multiple hits, as seven Wildcats registered a base hit in the game.
"Thought we did a really good job offensively. One through nine, you have to be super disciplined with the wind conditions the way they were blowing in and slightly out to right. So, you have to be super focused on staying on top of the baseball. Coach [Austin Wates] gave our guys a really good offensive game plan today, and our guys executed very well. So good team win. Look forward to playing better tomorrow."
With Saturday's victory Utah (11-7, 0-2 Big 12), K-State clinched its fifth consecutive weekend series at home and fourth straight over a Big 12 opponent at Tointon Family Stadium, dating back to the series win over Oklahoma State last season.
K-State hit .381 (8-for-21) with runners on base and .429 (6-for-14) in scoring position. Utah was 4-for-21 (.190) with men on and 2-for-11 (.182) in scoring position.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Down 1-0 in the second, K-State sent nine batters to the plate on its way to scoring four runs. Kennedy singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the inning and scored in the next at bat with a double into right center by Evasco.
O'Connor doubled to hand the Cats the one-run lead, until Madliak belted his second homer of the series 382-feet to left center to make it a 4-1 ball game.
The Wildcats took control of the game in the third, 11-1, highlighted by Martin's second grand slam of the season.
After a run was walked in, Martin belted the first pitch out to right canter to stretch the Cats lead, 9-1, and force Utah to make its first call to the bullpen. Kennedy delivered an RBI-single before the third baseman drew a throw down to second, allowing Kyan Lodice to steal home.
K-State tacked on the its final runs with a solo shot from O'Connor and RBI-single from pinch hitter Ty Smolinski.
INSIDE THE BOX
K-State and Utah wrap up the three-game Big 12 series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Tointon Family Stadium. The game can be seen 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.
"Well, obviously a convincing win, really good overall performance by our guys to win a series in the opening weekend of the Big 12," stated head coach Pete Hughes. "It's a big component when you're trying to build a resume to play really well in conferences. That's the first question that comes up when people look at your body of work. So, it was great to start with a series win."
Three Wildcats (11-7, 2-0 Big 12) homered in K-State's fifth straight win at home, starting with a two-run homer from catcher Bear Madliak – his second of the series. Maximus Martin, the Golden Spikes and Brooks Wallace Award National Player of the Week, would stretch the Cats' lead to eight with his second grand slam of the season. Keegan O'Connor recorded the third home run of the game with his leadoff solo blast in the fourth.
"It's all predicated off a good starting pitch. [Michael Quevedo] was outstanding today. Allowed us to build the lead. He did a good job during those long offensive innings, staying fresh and keeping his body moving. That's a big challenge when you have those innings that go over 20 minutes when you're at the plate for a starting pitcher."
Quevedo (3-0) produced his first quality outing in his fifth start as a Wildcat, after holding the Utes (11-7, 0-2 Big 12) to two earned runs on eight hits over six frames. The senior left-hander fanned seven batters and scattered eight hits without allowing a walk.
"He did a great job with that. And again, you look at a stat line, zero walks, that's always going to give you a chance to beat somebody. He was awesome today and kept that momentum in our dugout."
In relief of Quevedo, lefty Brody Roe fired three scoreless innings to pick up his first save in a K-State uniform, while limiting the Utes to three hits.
True freshman AJ Evasco was 3-for-5 with an RBI, recording his third multi-hit game of the season. In addition to Evasco, Dee Kennedy, O'Connor, and Martin each recorded multiple hits, as seven Wildcats registered a base hit in the game.
"Thought we did a really good job offensively. One through nine, you have to be super disciplined with the wind conditions the way they were blowing in and slightly out to right. So, you have to be super focused on staying on top of the baseball. Coach [Austin Wates] gave our guys a really good offensive game plan today, and our guys executed very well. So good team win. Look forward to playing better tomorrow."
With Saturday's victory Utah (11-7, 0-2 Big 12), K-State clinched its fifth consecutive weekend series at home and fourth straight over a Big 12 opponent at Tointon Family Stadium, dating back to the series win over Oklahoma State last season.
K-State hit .381 (8-for-21) with runners on base and .429 (6-for-14) in scoring position. Utah was 4-for-21 (.190) with men on and 2-for-11 (.182) in scoring position.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Down 1-0 in the second, K-State sent nine batters to the plate on its way to scoring four runs. Kennedy singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the inning and scored in the next at bat with a double into right center by Evasco.
O'Connor doubled to hand the Cats the one-run lead, until Madliak belted his second homer of the series 382-feet to left center to make it a 4-1 ball game.
The Wildcats took control of the game in the third, 11-1, highlighted by Martin's second grand slam of the season.
After a run was walked in, Martin belted the first pitch out to right canter to stretch the Cats lead, 9-1, and force Utah to make its first call to the bullpen. Kennedy delivered an RBI-single before the third baseman drew a throw down to second, allowing Kyan Lodice to steal home.
K-State tacked on the its final runs with a solo shot from O'Connor and RBI-single from pinch hitter Ty Smolinski.
INSIDE THE BOX
- The Cats scored 13 runs on 13 hits with eight left on base and committing two errors.
- UU was held to two runs on 11 hits, committed no errors and stranded 12 men on base.
- Seven different players registered a hit and recorded an RBI.
- Evasco led both squads with three hits, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
- Martin drove in a game-leading four RBI with a grand slam in the second.
- Kennedy, Martin and Madliak each turned in two hits.
- Quevedo (3-0) was award the win in his first quality start, allowing two earned runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts.
- Roe was credited with the save, firing three scoreless frames in relief of Quevedo.
- K-State hit .381 (8-for-21) with runners on base and .429 (6-for-14) in scoring position, while Utah was 4-for-21 (.190) with men on and 2-for-11 (.182) in scoring position.
- K-State clinched its fifth consecutive weekend series at home dating back to April last year; fourth consecutive over a Big 12 opponent.
- Three different players homered Saturday – Madliak, Martin, O'Connor – marking K-State's ninth multi-home run game.
- K-State leads the all-time series 7-1, with a 2-0 edge in games played in Big 12 action and in Manhattan.
- The Cats move to 5-0 at home during the 2025 season – 105-42 all-time under Hughes.
- K-State is 7-2 when scoring in the first inning.
- Lodice became the second player this season to steal home (Last: Kyan Lodice vs. Sam Houston).
- K-State is undefeated when scoring 10+ runs (6-0).
- The Cats are 10-1 when out-hitting opponents.
- Madliak homered for the second consecutive day.
- Martin recorded his eighth homer of the season with his second career grand slam in the third, while O'Connor hit his fifth.
- Quevedo logged his longest outing of the season with his six innings of work.
- Evasco turned in his third multi-hit game, stretching his team-leading hitting streak to nine.
- O'Connor has successfully reached base in the last 10 games with an eight-game hitting streak.
K-State and Utah wrap up the three-game Big 12 series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Tointon Family Stadium. The game can be seen 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: Quevedo, Michael (3-0)
L: Jones, Merit (2-1)
S: Roe, Brody (1)
Batting:
RBI: Quinn, Tyler 2
SH: Digiorno, Drake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Flaharty, Matt 1 ; Jackson, Core 1
HBP: Hawkins, Zakye 1 ; Digiorno, Drake 1
Batting:
2B: Evasco, AJ 1 ; O'Connor, Keegan 1
HR: O'Connor, Keegan 1 ; Madliak, Bear 1 ; Martin, Maximus 1
RBI: Smolinski, Ty 1 ; Kennedy, Dee 1 ; Evasco, AJ 1 ; O'Connor, Keegan 2 ; Madliak, Bear 2 ; Lewis, Donte 1 ; Martin, Maximus 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Inoue, Shintaro 1 ; Lodice, Kyan 1 ; Kennedy, Dee 1 ; Evasco, AJ 2 ; O'Connor, Keegan 3 ; Madliak, Bear 2 ; Lewis, Donte 1 ; Martin, Maximus 2
SB: English, Nick 1 ; Inoue, Shintaro 1 ; Lodice, Kyan 1 ; Kennedy, Dee 1
HBP: O'Connor, Keegan 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
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