Kansas State University Athletics

Wildcats, Cornhuskers Clash in Manhattan Tuesday
Mar 24, 2025 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – After its first series win at Baylor since 2017, K-State returns to Tointon Family Stadium to take on former Big 12 rival Nebraska Tuesday night, set for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
Â
K-State (15-8, 5-1 Big 12) currently ranks atop the Big 12 standings, after capturing their second conference series of the season. Nebraska (10-13, 2-7 Big Ten) returns to the Midwest following an eight-game road trip in across California. The Cornhuskers finished 3-5 on the west coast after dropping a conference series to Big Ten newcomer USC.
Â
The Wildcats will send freshman righty Donte Lewis (2-0, 2.31 ERA) to the hill for his third mid-week start while the Huskers will oppose him with redshirt-freshman right-hander Carson Jasa (2-1, 5.52 ERA).
Â
Tuesday's game can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with radio coverage available the K-State Sports Network. Live streaming audio is also available at K-StateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app.
Â
Season and single-game tickets are now available and can be purchased online at KStateSports.com, or by calling 1-800-221-CATS (2287), or stopping by the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
Â
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.
Â
GAME #24
K-STATE (15-8, 5-1 Big 12) vs. NEBRASKA (10-13, 2-7 BIG TEN)
Tuesday, March 25 // 6 PM CT // Tointon Family Stadium (2,344)
Projected Starters: RHP Donte Lewis (2-0, 2.31 ERA) vs. RHP Carson Jasa (2-1, 5.52 ERA)
Watch: ESPN + // Matt Walters, Mike Clark
Radio: KMAN // Wyatt Thompson, Trevor Hurley
Listen Online: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats // Tickets
Â
THE MATCHUP
After its first series win at Baylor since 2017, K-State returns to Tointon Family Stadium to take on former Big 12 rival Nebraska Tuesday night, set for 6 p.m. first pitch … K-State (15-8, 5-1 Big 12) currently ranks atop the Big 12 standings, after capturing their second conference series of the season. Nebraska (10-13, 2-7 Big Ten) returns to the Midwest following an eight-game road trip in across California. The Cornhuskers finished 3-5 on the west coast after dropping a conference series to Big Ten newcomer USC … The Wildcats will send freshman righty Donte Lewis (2-0, 2.31 ERA) to the hill for his third mid-week start while the Huskers will oppose him with redshirt-freshman right-hander Carson Jasa (2-1, 5.52 ERA).
Â
A LOOK AT K-STATE
K-State returns to Tointon Family Stadium, where it holds a perfect 6-0 record, to take on long-time rival Nebraska in game one of the home-and-home series ... K-State heads into the midweek with a 15-8 overall record after going 3-1 in week six action, that included a Big 12 road series win at Baylor … After starting of the season 1-4, K-State is 14-4 in their last 18 games, including an 11-3 record in the month of March  … K-State is hitting .297 as a team and is second in the Big 12 with 41 home runs, ranking 13th overall in the country … Maximus Martin leads the Cats in six offensive categories, producing a slash line of ..408/.483/.868 with 31 hits and 24 RBI … His .868 slugging percentage leads the Big 12 and ranks 11th in the nation … True freshman right-hander Donte Lewis (2-0) will make his second consecutive midweek start Tuesday … In six total outings, Lewis boasts a 2.31 ERA (3 ER, 11.2 IP) with 13 strikeouts.
Â
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
Nebraska enters the week with a 10-13 overall record, including a 4-8 record in true road games … UNL is led by sixth-year head coach Will Bolt who's guided the Huskers to a 147-110-1 overall record … Under Bolt, Nebraska captured its first Big Ten Tournmnent title in school history last season to advance to their 18th NCAA Tournament … Bolt served as a team captain with the Huskers' baseball program helping the Huskers to back-to-back College World Series appearances in 2001 and 2002 … As a team, Nebraska is hitting .243 with just two players hitting over a .300 clip … Devin Nunez leads the offense and has produced a slash line of .343/.397/.478 with 14 RBI, while Dylan Carey has driven in a team-leading 21 runs with four home runs … The Huskers' pitching staff has compiled a 5.11 ERA led by Will Walsh (3.90 ERA), who has made five starts with two wins … Right-hander Carson Jasa will make his third start of the year, entering the midweek with a 5.52 ERA (9 ER, 14.2 IP) and 2-1 record.
Â
INSIDE THE SERIES
Tuesday's midweek marks the 294th meeting between the two schools, with Nebraska leading the all-time series 176-117, dating back to 1898 … The Huskers lead 80-72 in games played in Manhattan … K-State Is 3-4 against the Cornhuskers under Hughes, after the Wildcats picked up a 9-6 victory earlier in March at the Frisco Classic, snapping a three-game losing streak … K-State is 4-6 in the last 10 contests. Â
Â
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
W, 6-4 – March 9, 2022 (Manhattan)
L, 6-8 – April 26, 2022 (Lincoln)
L, 1-6 - April 4, 2023 (Manhattan)
L, 0-8 – May 1, 2024 (Lincoln)
W, 9-6 – March 2, 2025 (Frisco, Texas)
Â
THE BRIGHTER SIDE
Despite dropping the series finale at Baylor, K-State secured a road series win at Baylor for just the third time in school history … The Wildcats left Waco with their fourth consecutive three-game series win dating back to last season and third straight Big 12 series … With Saturday's win, K-State matched a program-best 5-0 start (1990), while it was the first 5-0 start in Big 12 play in school history … Saturday's victory lifted the Cats to their season-best six-game winning streak … The Wildcats secured their first road series against the Bears since 2017 and first Big 12 road series of the season.
Â
MARCH MADNESS
After a 4-5 start in February, K-State is 11-3 in games played in the month of March, that included a season-long six-game winning streak (March 14-22) ... The Wildcat offense is hitting at a .315 clip in the month and averaging 10 runs a game with 10.6 hits a game ... In February, the Cats hit just .270 as a team with 5.6 runs per game on 9.2 hits a contest ... Additionally, K-State is hitting .353 with runners in scoring position, and .318 with two outs in March with 41 two-out RBI ... Seven Cats are hitting north of .300 in the month of March, with three starters hitting .400 or better ... O'Connor leads the offense, hitting .438 followed by Martin (.409), and Lodice (.400) ... Eleven players have homered in March, with six hitting multiple ... K-State has 33 homers in March.
Â
HOME COOKIN'
K-State has won each of its six home tilts – the team's second longest winning streak to begin its home slate since 2022 ... At home, the Wildcat offense is hitting .380 and slugging an incredible .750 with 19 home runs ... K-State averages 12.5 runs a game on 12.7 hits at Tointon Family Stadium ... Conversely, the Cats are hitting .269 and slugging .447 in games away from home, averaging 6.8 runs per game and 9.2 hits a game ... The Wildcat bullpen boasts a 4.12 ERA at home, striking out 51 compared to 13 walks ... In road and neutral contest, K-State starters and relievers have a combined ERA of 5.55 with 166 strikeouts and 83 walks ... K-State has homered in each of its six home games this season, with 19 of its 41 home runs have come at Tointon Family Stadium ... Freshman AJ Evasco leads the Wildcats in hitting at .522 at home while Maximus Martin is next at .500 … K-State baseball is 414-217 when playing at home since 2002 … The Wildcats are 108-42 at home under Hughes and 87-21 (.806) since 2021.
Â
POWER SURGE
Twelve Wildcats belted at least one home run this season … K-State's 41 homers – ranks second in the league and 13th in Division I – with 33 coming in in the month of March … Nine different players have recorded multiple home runs this season led by Martin (9) and O'Connor (6) … Martin and O'Connor have each turned in a two-run home run game this season … K-State has turned in 13 multi-home run games (12-1), including a season-high six homers on Sunday against William & Mary … The Cats have generated five back-to-back performances this season (Latest: Shintaro Inoue and Cayden Phillips, vs. William & Mary, March 9) … Martin and Evasco have each launched a grand slam this season … Since 2019, K-State's offense has turned in four of the top five seasons in terms of total home runs in program history, including a single-season record 89 in 2021 … The 89 bombs ranked 11th in the nation and shattered the previous record of 75 set in 1997.
WINNING TIME
In K-State's 15 wins this season, the Wildcats are hitting .348 with runners in scoring position and .308 with two outs ... Conversely, the Cats have a .281 average with runners in scoring position while hitting .247 with two outs over eight losses ... K-State has produced 47 two-out RBI in victories with 12 in eight losses ... Overall, K-State hits .328 in victories against just .236 in defeats ... In eight losses, K-State pitchers have combined for 50 walks (6.3 per game) while in victories the staff averages 3.1 walks per game (46 walks in 15 wins).
Â
NUMBERS NUGGETS
K-State has a season +58 run differential through 23 games averaging 8.3 runs on 10.1 hits per game ... Cats are undefeated (13-0) when leading after the sixth and 1-2 when tied after six ... K-State is 12-4 when committing one or no errors ... When scoring first, K-State is 10-3 and 7-2 when scoring in the first inning … K-State has outhit opponents in 13 of 23 games this season (12-1) and is 10-1 when limiting opponents to five or less runs … 16 of 23 games have been against right-handed starters (11-5), while K-State is 4-3 against lefty starters. Â
Â
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Following the series win at Baylor, K-State jumped atop the Big 12 standings with a 5-1 league record for the second consecutive season … The Cats are tied alongside Arizona (18-5, 5-1 Big 12) while Arizona State and Texas Tech are tied for third … A battle for fifth in the league standings is between a four-way tie with schools posting a 3-3 record… Arizona is the only school featured in the each of the four major national polls from the Big 12, ranking as high as 16th by Baseball America, while West Virginia is ranked 23rd by the NCBWA … TCU's Sawyer Strosnider (player and newcomer) and Utah's Colter McAnelly (pitcher) garnered the Big 12 Baseball weekly awards for games ending March 23.
Â
O'CAN HE MASH
Outfielder Keegan O'Connor raised his slugging percentage to .734 – the fifth highest in the league – as the graduate paced the Wildcats offense with a slash line of .500/.500/.857. The Andover, Massachusetts product launched a game-winning home run in the eighth to secure the Wildcats 7-6 victory at Tarleton State, finishing the week driving in a team-leading six RBI and scoring s team-best five runs. The graduate's .545 (6-for-11) weekend average helped the Wildcats claim the program's third road series at Baylor in school history and first since 2017, winning their fourth straight three-game series dating back to last season. O'Connor has registered a hit in 13 consecutive games, second highest on the team, while he moved to second with seven multi-hit games, including six in his last 10 games.
Â
LOOK BACK AT IT
K-State recorded its longest win streak into the weekend series from March 14-22 … During the six-game winning streak, the Cats are slashed .322/.412/.596 in the stretch with four starters hitting above .375 … In six games, K-State hit 16 doubles, one triple and 13 home runs, led by three homers from Bear Madliak … Wildcats outscored opponents 63-22, averaging 11.2 hits per game … The pitching staff boasted a 3.63 ERA, surrendering 3.5 earned runs per game while opponents hit a .264 average … The Cats pitchers struck out 53 batters and issued 15 walks, accumulating a 3.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
UP NEXT
K-State will host Texas Tech (7-13, 4-2 Big 12) this weekend at Tointon Family Stadium, starting Friday at 6 p.m. Game two is scheduled for 4 p.m. while the series finale is slated for 1 p.m. against the Red Raiders.
Â
Â
K-State (15-8, 5-1 Big 12) currently ranks atop the Big 12 standings, after capturing their second conference series of the season. Nebraska (10-13, 2-7 Big Ten) returns to the Midwest following an eight-game road trip in across California. The Cornhuskers finished 3-5 on the west coast after dropping a conference series to Big Ten newcomer USC.
Â
The Wildcats will send freshman righty Donte Lewis (2-0, 2.31 ERA) to the hill for his third mid-week start while the Huskers will oppose him with redshirt-freshman right-hander Carson Jasa (2-1, 5.52 ERA).
Â
Tuesday's game can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with radio coverage available the K-State Sports Network. Live streaming audio is also available at K-StateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app.
Â
Season and single-game tickets are now available and can be purchased online at KStateSports.com, or by calling 1-800-221-CATS (2287), or stopping by the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
Â
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.
Â
GAME #24
K-STATE (15-8, 5-1 Big 12) vs. NEBRASKA (10-13, 2-7 BIG TEN)
Tuesday, March 25 // 6 PM CT // Tointon Family Stadium (2,344)
Projected Starters: RHP Donte Lewis (2-0, 2.31 ERA) vs. RHP Carson Jasa (2-1, 5.52 ERA)
Watch: ESPN + // Matt Walters, Mike Clark
Radio: KMAN // Wyatt Thompson, Trevor Hurley
Listen Online: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats // Tickets
Â
THE MATCHUP
After its first series win at Baylor since 2017, K-State returns to Tointon Family Stadium to take on former Big 12 rival Nebraska Tuesday night, set for 6 p.m. first pitch … K-State (15-8, 5-1 Big 12) currently ranks atop the Big 12 standings, after capturing their second conference series of the season. Nebraska (10-13, 2-7 Big Ten) returns to the Midwest following an eight-game road trip in across California. The Cornhuskers finished 3-5 on the west coast after dropping a conference series to Big Ten newcomer USC … The Wildcats will send freshman righty Donte Lewis (2-0, 2.31 ERA) to the hill for his third mid-week start while the Huskers will oppose him with redshirt-freshman right-hander Carson Jasa (2-1, 5.52 ERA).
Â
A LOOK AT K-STATE
K-State returns to Tointon Family Stadium, where it holds a perfect 6-0 record, to take on long-time rival Nebraska in game one of the home-and-home series ... K-State heads into the midweek with a 15-8 overall record after going 3-1 in week six action, that included a Big 12 road series win at Baylor … After starting of the season 1-4, K-State is 14-4 in their last 18 games, including an 11-3 record in the month of March  … K-State is hitting .297 as a team and is second in the Big 12 with 41 home runs, ranking 13th overall in the country … Maximus Martin leads the Cats in six offensive categories, producing a slash line of ..408/.483/.868 with 31 hits and 24 RBI … His .868 slugging percentage leads the Big 12 and ranks 11th in the nation … True freshman right-hander Donte Lewis (2-0) will make his second consecutive midweek start Tuesday … In six total outings, Lewis boasts a 2.31 ERA (3 ER, 11.2 IP) with 13 strikeouts.
Â
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
Nebraska enters the week with a 10-13 overall record, including a 4-8 record in true road games … UNL is led by sixth-year head coach Will Bolt who's guided the Huskers to a 147-110-1 overall record … Under Bolt, Nebraska captured its first Big Ten Tournmnent title in school history last season to advance to their 18th NCAA Tournament … Bolt served as a team captain with the Huskers' baseball program helping the Huskers to back-to-back College World Series appearances in 2001 and 2002 … As a team, Nebraska is hitting .243 with just two players hitting over a .300 clip … Devin Nunez leads the offense and has produced a slash line of .343/.397/.478 with 14 RBI, while Dylan Carey has driven in a team-leading 21 runs with four home runs … The Huskers' pitching staff has compiled a 5.11 ERA led by Will Walsh (3.90 ERA), who has made five starts with two wins … Right-hander Carson Jasa will make his third start of the year, entering the midweek with a 5.52 ERA (9 ER, 14.2 IP) and 2-1 record.
Â
INSIDE THE SERIES
Tuesday's midweek marks the 294th meeting between the two schools, with Nebraska leading the all-time series 176-117, dating back to 1898 … The Huskers lead 80-72 in games played in Manhattan … K-State Is 3-4 against the Cornhuskers under Hughes, after the Wildcats picked up a 9-6 victory earlier in March at the Frisco Classic, snapping a three-game losing streak … K-State is 4-6 in the last 10 contests. Â
Â
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
W, 6-4 – March 9, 2022 (Manhattan)
L, 6-8 – April 26, 2022 (Lincoln)
L, 1-6 - April 4, 2023 (Manhattan)
L, 0-8 – May 1, 2024 (Lincoln)
W, 9-6 – March 2, 2025 (Frisco, Texas)
Â
THE BRIGHTER SIDE
Despite dropping the series finale at Baylor, K-State secured a road series win at Baylor for just the third time in school history … The Wildcats left Waco with their fourth consecutive three-game series win dating back to last season and third straight Big 12 series … With Saturday's win, K-State matched a program-best 5-0 start (1990), while it was the first 5-0 start in Big 12 play in school history … Saturday's victory lifted the Cats to their season-best six-game winning streak … The Wildcats secured their first road series against the Bears since 2017 and first Big 12 road series of the season.
Â
MARCH MADNESS
After a 4-5 start in February, K-State is 11-3 in games played in the month of March, that included a season-long six-game winning streak (March 14-22) ... The Wildcat offense is hitting at a .315 clip in the month and averaging 10 runs a game with 10.6 hits a game ... In February, the Cats hit just .270 as a team with 5.6 runs per game on 9.2 hits a contest ... Additionally, K-State is hitting .353 with runners in scoring position, and .318 with two outs in March with 41 two-out RBI ... Seven Cats are hitting north of .300 in the month of March, with three starters hitting .400 or better ... O'Connor leads the offense, hitting .438 followed by Martin (.409), and Lodice (.400) ... Eleven players have homered in March, with six hitting multiple ... K-State has 33 homers in March.
Â
HOME COOKIN'
K-State has won each of its six home tilts – the team's second longest winning streak to begin its home slate since 2022 ... At home, the Wildcat offense is hitting .380 and slugging an incredible .750 with 19 home runs ... K-State averages 12.5 runs a game on 12.7 hits at Tointon Family Stadium ... Conversely, the Cats are hitting .269 and slugging .447 in games away from home, averaging 6.8 runs per game and 9.2 hits a game ... The Wildcat bullpen boasts a 4.12 ERA at home, striking out 51 compared to 13 walks ... In road and neutral contest, K-State starters and relievers have a combined ERA of 5.55 with 166 strikeouts and 83 walks ... K-State has homered in each of its six home games this season, with 19 of its 41 home runs have come at Tointon Family Stadium ... Freshman AJ Evasco leads the Wildcats in hitting at .522 at home while Maximus Martin is next at .500 … K-State baseball is 414-217 when playing at home since 2002 … The Wildcats are 108-42 at home under Hughes and 87-21 (.806) since 2021.
Â
POWER SURGE
Twelve Wildcats belted at least one home run this season … K-State's 41 homers – ranks second in the league and 13th in Division I – with 33 coming in in the month of March … Nine different players have recorded multiple home runs this season led by Martin (9) and O'Connor (6) … Martin and O'Connor have each turned in a two-run home run game this season … K-State has turned in 13 multi-home run games (12-1), including a season-high six homers on Sunday against William & Mary … The Cats have generated five back-to-back performances this season (Latest: Shintaro Inoue and Cayden Phillips, vs. William & Mary, March 9) … Martin and Evasco have each launched a grand slam this season … Since 2019, K-State's offense has turned in four of the top five seasons in terms of total home runs in program history, including a single-season record 89 in 2021 … The 89 bombs ranked 11th in the nation and shattered the previous record of 75 set in 1997.
WINNING TIME
In K-State's 15 wins this season, the Wildcats are hitting .348 with runners in scoring position and .308 with two outs ... Conversely, the Cats have a .281 average with runners in scoring position while hitting .247 with two outs over eight losses ... K-State has produced 47 two-out RBI in victories with 12 in eight losses ... Overall, K-State hits .328 in victories against just .236 in defeats ... In eight losses, K-State pitchers have combined for 50 walks (6.3 per game) while in victories the staff averages 3.1 walks per game (46 walks in 15 wins).
Â
NUMBERS NUGGETS
K-State has a season +58 run differential through 23 games averaging 8.3 runs on 10.1 hits per game ... Cats are undefeated (13-0) when leading after the sixth and 1-2 when tied after six ... K-State is 12-4 when committing one or no errors ... When scoring first, K-State is 10-3 and 7-2 when scoring in the first inning … K-State has outhit opponents in 13 of 23 games this season (12-1) and is 10-1 when limiting opponents to five or less runs … 16 of 23 games have been against right-handed starters (11-5), while K-State is 4-3 against lefty starters. Â
Â
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Following the series win at Baylor, K-State jumped atop the Big 12 standings with a 5-1 league record for the second consecutive season … The Cats are tied alongside Arizona (18-5, 5-1 Big 12) while Arizona State and Texas Tech are tied for third … A battle for fifth in the league standings is between a four-way tie with schools posting a 3-3 record… Arizona is the only school featured in the each of the four major national polls from the Big 12, ranking as high as 16th by Baseball America, while West Virginia is ranked 23rd by the NCBWA … TCU's Sawyer Strosnider (player and newcomer) and Utah's Colter McAnelly (pitcher) garnered the Big 12 Baseball weekly awards for games ending March 23.
Â
O'CAN HE MASH
Outfielder Keegan O'Connor raised his slugging percentage to .734 – the fifth highest in the league – as the graduate paced the Wildcats offense with a slash line of .500/.500/.857. The Andover, Massachusetts product launched a game-winning home run in the eighth to secure the Wildcats 7-6 victory at Tarleton State, finishing the week driving in a team-leading six RBI and scoring s team-best five runs. The graduate's .545 (6-for-11) weekend average helped the Wildcats claim the program's third road series at Baylor in school history and first since 2017, winning their fourth straight three-game series dating back to last season. O'Connor has registered a hit in 13 consecutive games, second highest on the team, while he moved to second with seven multi-hit games, including six in his last 10 games.
Â
LOOK BACK AT IT
K-State recorded its longest win streak into the weekend series from March 14-22 … During the six-game winning streak, the Cats are slashed .322/.412/.596 in the stretch with four starters hitting above .375 … In six games, K-State hit 16 doubles, one triple and 13 home runs, led by three homers from Bear Madliak … Wildcats outscored opponents 63-22, averaging 11.2 hits per game … The pitching staff boasted a 3.63 ERA, surrendering 3.5 earned runs per game while opponents hit a .264 average … The Cats pitchers struck out 53 batters and issued 15 walks, accumulating a 3.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
UP NEXT
K-State will host Texas Tech (7-13, 4-2 Big 12) this weekend at Tointon Family Stadium, starting Friday at 6 p.m. Game two is scheduled for 4 p.m. while the series finale is slated for 1 p.m. against the Red Raiders.
Â
Players Mentioned
K-State BSB | Postgame Press Conference vs Texas
Sunday, June 01
K-State Baseball | Game Highlights vs Houston Christian (Austin Regional)
Sunday, June 01
K-State BSB | Game Highlights vs Houston Christian (Austin Regional)
Saturday, May 31
K-State BSB | Postgame Press Conference vs Houston Christian
Saturday, May 31