Sunday, February 15
Mesa, Ariz.
12:45 p.m.
Kansas State University
3-0
24
vs
5
Penn State
1-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Kansas State
0
2
2
2
3
1
14
24
21
1
Penn State
0
1
1
1
0
1
1
5
9
1
Wildcats Score 24 Runs, Down Nittany Lions Sunday
Feb 15, 2026 | Baseball
MESA, Ariz. – Junior Dee Kennedy homered twice and drove in a career-high seven RBI to fuel a K-State offense that erupted for 24 runs and 21 hits Sunday afternoon, as the Wildcats downed Penn State, 24-5, in seven innings at Sloan Park. With the victory, the Wildcats stay undefeated at the MLB Desert Invitational with a 3-0 record to start the 2026 season.
After a shutout opening frame, K-State scored in six consecutive innings and put multiple runs on the board in all but one. The Wildcats dominant 14-run seventh marks the highest run total in a single-inning during the composite bat era (since 2011).
"A great win," said K-State skipper Pete Hughes. "Our kids stayed hungry and that's a great sign. Obviously, you could talk about Dee Kennedy today, and what he did offensively, but I thought Lincoln [Sheffield] was awesome. He picked up his teammates a couple times when we didn't play great defense for him, and that's what senior leadership does. But overall, great team win."
Sheffield (1-0) was awarded his eighth victory as a Wildcat after limiting Penn State (1-2) to three runs (two earned) over his five-inning start. The senior lefty finished the game surrendering eight hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Over three games, the Cats have outscored opponents 46-14 and average 15.3 runs on 14 hits per game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the third consecutive day, K-State opened scoring as Micah Kendrick drilled a RBI-double into right field followed by Ty Smolinski's sacrifice fly to hand the Cats a two-run edge in the second.
The Nittany Lions responded in the bottom of the frame with Preston Yacher's single to right field, trimming the Cats lead to one, 2-1.
Third baseman Grant Gallagher tripled down the left field line to drive in Robby Bolin, following the senior center fielder's infield single. Shintaro Inoue pulled the first pitch he faced to extend the Cats' lead to three.
K-State spotted freshman starter Isaiah Shayter for two runs in the fourth with back-to-back run-scoring singles from Bear Madliak and Bolin, forcing Penn State to make its first call to the bullpen. Junior Kyle Emmons quickly recorded a pair of outs to stop the damage.
The Wildcats batted through the lineup in the fifth, led by Kennedy's solo blast. The junior shortstop belted his second homer of the season 426-feet over the left field wall to start off the three-run inning.
K-State erupted for 14 runs in the seventh to put the game away, as the Wildcats batted through the lineup twice with eight different players combining for 10 hits. Leading 18-4, Kennedy shelled his second grand slam of the year to left field and hand the Cats' their first 20-run game since March of last season.
INSIDE THE BOX
K-State will conclude the MLB Desert Invitational Monday at 2 p.m. CT, as the Wildcats take on Air Force (1-1) at Sloan Park, the spring training home of the Chicago Cubs. Monday's matchup will feature right-hander Tanner Duke against the Falcons' righty Cranz Smelcer. The game can be seen on MLB.com, while radio coverage is available on KMAN.
After a shutout opening frame, K-State scored in six consecutive innings and put multiple runs on the board in all but one. The Wildcats dominant 14-run seventh marks the highest run total in a single-inning during the composite bat era (since 2011).
"A great win," said K-State skipper Pete Hughes. "Our kids stayed hungry and that's a great sign. Obviously, you could talk about Dee Kennedy today, and what he did offensively, but I thought Lincoln [Sheffield] was awesome. He picked up his teammates a couple times when we didn't play great defense for him, and that's what senior leadership does. But overall, great team win."
Sheffield (1-0) was awarded his eighth victory as a Wildcat after limiting Penn State (1-2) to three runs (two earned) over his five-inning start. The senior lefty finished the game surrendering eight hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Over three games, the Cats have outscored opponents 46-14 and average 15.3 runs on 14 hits per game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the third consecutive day, K-State opened scoring as Micah Kendrick drilled a RBI-double into right field followed by Ty Smolinski's sacrifice fly to hand the Cats a two-run edge in the second.
The Nittany Lions responded in the bottom of the frame with Preston Yacher's single to right field, trimming the Cats lead to one, 2-1.
Third baseman Grant Gallagher tripled down the left field line to drive in Robby Bolin, following the senior center fielder's infield single. Shintaro Inoue pulled the first pitch he faced to extend the Cats' lead to three.
K-State spotted freshman starter Isaiah Shayter for two runs in the fourth with back-to-back run-scoring singles from Bear Madliak and Bolin, forcing Penn State to make its first call to the bullpen. Junior Kyle Emmons quickly recorded a pair of outs to stop the damage.
The Wildcats batted through the lineup in the fifth, led by Kennedy's solo blast. The junior shortstop belted his second homer of the season 426-feet over the left field wall to start off the three-run inning.
K-State erupted for 14 runs in the seventh to put the game away, as the Wildcats batted through the lineup twice with eight different players combining for 10 hits. Leading 18-4, Kennedy shelled his second grand slam of the year to left field and hand the Cats' their first 20-run game since March of last season.
INSIDE THE BOX
- K-State scored 24 runs on 21 hits with one error committed and eight men left on base while Penn State was held to five runs on nine hits, had one error and left six runners on base.
- Sunday's contest featured five total double plays – 3-K-State, 2 Penn State.
- Kennedy led all players with four hits (4-for-5) with two doubles, a home run, and grand slam, totaling seven RBI on the day.
- Eleven different players produced a hit with nine driving in a run for K-State.
- Six Wildcats generated multi-hit performances while seven had multiple RBIs.
- Inoue and Bolin both had a three-hit performances, while Evasco, Lodice and Kendrick each had two.
- All 12 batters in K-State's lineup scored a run on Sunday, with eight scoring multiple led by Kennedy (5).
- Sheffield was credited with the win after firing five complete innings with three runs (two earned) on eight hits and five strikeouts.
- Sam Flores and Miles Smith combined for two innings in relief and allowed two runs (earned) with two strikeouts.
- K-State drew 11 walks as a team, while the pitching staff issued just two.
- PSU's Shayter (0-1) was tagged for the loss after allowing six runs (earned) on seven hits with three walks and one strikeout over his 3 1/3-inning start.
- Three players produced multi-hit games for Penn State, while five different players drove in an RBI.
- PSU's Jaconski homered in the sixth.
- Seven different pitchers made an appearance on the mound for Penn State.
- Sunday's contest marks the fifth all-time meeting between K-State and Penn State, with the Wildcats leading the series 4-1 since its start in 1994.
- K-State has scored first in three consecutive games and outscored opponents 46-14 over Opening Weekend, averaging 15.3 runs on 14 hits per game.
- Over Opening Weekend, the Wildcats have scored in 16-of-23 innings played, while opponents have only scored in 12-of-25.
- The Wildcats have produced 15 extra-base hits against opponents' eight.
- It was the first 20-run game since March 9, 2025, vs. William & Mary (20).
- K-State's 24 runs are the most runs scored since March 4, 2023, vs. Stonehill (25).
- Under Hughes, K-State has recorded six 20-run games and won 11 when run-ruling a team.
- The Wildcats' 14 runs in the seventh are the most runs scored in a single-inning since April 16, 2023, at Kansas (13).
- K-State's 14-run seventh is the largest single-inning run total in the composite bat era (since 2011).
- The NCAA Division I record for most runs scored in a single-inning are 21 runs originally set by Penn against Franklin & Marshall in 1983. Most recently Valparaiso tied the record in 2010 vs. Chicago State.
- In its 126-year history, K-State has tallied 58 total games scoring 20 or more runs.
- Kennedy launched his second and third home runs of the season, including two grand slams – totals 14 in his career at K-State.
- Evasco and Kennedy each lead the weekend with seven hits, followed by Lodice and Bolin with five.
- On the weekend, Kennedy is responsible for 13 RBI with nine runs scored.
- Four players have recorded a hit and reached base in all three games – Evasco, Gallagher, Kennedy and Bolin.
- Sheffield was awarded his eighth career win at K-State.
K-State will conclude the MLB Desert Invitational Monday at 2 p.m. CT, as the Wildcats take on Air Force (1-1) at Sloan Park, the spring training home of the Chicago Cubs. Monday's matchup will feature right-hander Tanner Duke against the Falcons' righty Cranz Smelcer. The game can be seen on MLB.com, while radio coverage is available on KMAN.
– 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.
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: Sheffield, Lincoln (1-0)
L: Isaiah Shayter (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Kennedy, Dee 2 ; Evasco, AJ 1 ; Lodice, Kyan 2 ; Karl, Cadyn 1 ; Kendrick, Micah 1
3B: Gallagher, Grant 1
HR: Kennedy, Dee 2
RBI: Bolin, Robby 1 ; Lewis, Donte 1 ; Gallagher, Grant 2 ; Inoue, Shintaro 2 ; Kennedy, Dee 7 ; Evasco, AJ 3 ; Kendrick, Micah 2 ; Smolinski, Ty 2 ; Madliak, Bear 2
SF: Smolinski, Ty 1 ; Madliak, Bear 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bolin, Robby 2 ; Lewis, Donte 1 ; Gallagher, Grant 2 ; Inoue, Shintaro 2 ; Kennedy, Dee 5 ; Evasco, AJ 1 ; English, Nick 1 ; Lodice, Kyan 2 ; Karl, Cadyn 2 ; Kendrick, Micah 2 ; Smolinski, Ty 2 ; Madliak, Bear 2
CS: Bolin, Robby 2
HBP: Gallagher, Grant 1 ; Lodice, Kyan 2 ; Kendrick, Micah 1
Batting:
2B: Jayden Davis 1 ; Jack Porter 1
HR: Jesse Jaconski 1
RBI: Cohl Mercado 1 ; Jayden Davis 1 ; Jack Porter 1 ; Jesse Jaconski 1 ; Preston Yaucher 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Justin Turcovski 1 ; Jayden Davis 1 ; Jack Porter 1 ; Jesse Jaconski 1 ; Joey DeMucci 1
SB: Justin Turcovski 1
HBP: Maddox McDonald 1 ; Jack Porter 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
5
H
4
RBI
7
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
6
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
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INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
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/ BaseballINF
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/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
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