Wildcats Go Undefeated at MLB Desert Invitational

Monday, February 16

Mesa, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Kansas State University

4-0

Air Force

2-2

Kansas State

Air Force

Feb 16, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

MESA, Ariz. – Robert Fortenberry delivered 3 2/3 scoreless innings and AJ Evasco drove in a game-high three RBI Monday afternoon to lift K-State to an 11-8 win over Air Force at Sloan Park, as the Wildcats completed a weekend sweep of the MLB Desert Invitational.

"Good way to end a really productive weekend for us, but a lot of room to improve," eight-year head coach Pete Hughes said. "Great effort by Robert Fortenberry against a super offensive, dangerous team. That was a scary game for me, but Robert came in with a veteran presence. He calmed everything down and let our offense go to work."

Fortenberry, who earned the win in his K-State debut, used 43 pitches to retire all 11 batters he faced in his K-State debut. The senior left-hander struck out three in his outing to allow the offense to take back the lead in the fourth.

"But like I said, there is a lot of work to be done. We still haven't beat a team that hasn't practiced outside yet, so we have to be realistic that we have bigger challenges ahead, and we need to improve," added Hughes.

K-State is off to a 4-0 start for the second time in the Pete Hughes era, first since 2023, while Monday's win caps the first season-opening stretch of four consecutive wins against four different opponents over four days.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Air Force utilized four hits to take a 2-1 lead at the end of the opening frame.

The Wildcats quickly overcame the one-run deficit in the next inning, as AJ Evasco delivered a two-run single before a sacrifice fly by Dee Kennedy handed K-State a 4-2 lead.

Air Force (2-2) knotted the game, 4-4, forcing K-State to make a call to the pen. Robert Fortenberry relieved Tanner Duke in the third and inherited runners on first and second. The senior lefty retired 11 consecutive batters to allow the offense to jump back into the game.

Tied 4-4, sophomore utility Donte Lewis doubled to left field to start off the Cats' three-run fourth inning. K-State regained the lead in the next at-bat as Evasco drove in his third RBI of the game with a triple down the left field line. The Lincoln, Neb., product crossed plate with Shintaro Inoue's two-run blast.

K-State stretched its lead to four in the sixth with a sacrifice fly from Kennedy – his 15^th RBI of the weekend. Third baseman Grant Gallagher recorded his first homer of the season – a 106.5-mph shot over the left field wall – to put the Cats in double figures for the second consecutive game.

The Falcons erased an 11-4 deficit, led by a pair of home runs in the eighth, but the Wildcats were able to hold off the rally and secure their fourth consecutive win.

INSIDE THE BOX

K-State scored 11 runs on 11 hits, committed one error and stranded 10 men on base, while Air Force scored eight runs on nine hits with one error and leaving seven on base.
Seven different Wildcats produced a hit, with four producing two.
Evasco led all players with three RBI, while Kennedy, Inoue, and Carlos Vasquez each had two.
Vasquez was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk.
K-State drew five walks through the first 3 1/3 innings.
Inoue and Gallagher each homered, while the Falcons had two players hit home runs.
The Cats utilized five pitchers in the win.
Fortenberry was awarded the win in relief of starter Tanner Duke. He retired 11 consecutive batters with three strikeouts.
Duke surrendered four runs (earned) on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts in his 2 1/3 inning start.
Four players recorded a steal for K-State – Lewis, Kennedy, Karl and Vasquez.
Reliever Josh Shropshire was credited with the loss, allowing three earned runs on four hits over two innings.
TJ Oster was the only player to generate two hits for the Falcons offense, as eight different players produced a hit.

TEAM NOTES

K-State has opened scoring in four straight games to start the 2026 season.
Monday's game marked the 20^th meeting between K-State and Air Force, with the Wildcats leading the all-time series 14-5.
K-State is 6-2 in the last eight games of the series with Ari Force.
As a team, the Cats have homered in three of four games this season – all with two or more
The Wildcats 4-0 start to the 2026 campaign ties the best start in the Hughes era, first since 2023.
It is the first time in school history the Cats have defeated four different opponents over a four-day stretch to start the year.
The Wildcats outscored opponents 57-22 over the tournament averaging 14.3 runs on 13.3 hits per game.
Fifteen different players produced a hit across the tournament, led by nine from Evasco. Kennedy followed with seven, while Bolin and Inoue each had six.
K-State's non-starters hit .429 at the tournament with three RBI, led by two from Chandler Murray.
The Wildcats were 11-for-14 on the bases led by Kennedy who was 5-for-5.
K-State has registered 10+ hits in all but one game this season, scoring double figure runs in each.

PLAYER NOTES

Inoue and Gallagher each hit their first home runs of the season. It was the 10^th-career homer for Inoue at K-State.
Evasco recorded an RBI in all four games, with three multi-hit performances.
Gallagher, Evasco, and Bolin have produced a hit in four consecutive games, while each have reached base in all, along with Inoue and Kennedy.
Kennedy led all players with 15 RBI on the weekend, followed by Evasco with 10.
Kennedy and Bolin each scored 10 runs.
Austin Haley made his mound debut.

UP NEXT
The Wildcats will head to the Lone Star State to compete in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field, starting Friday at 7 p.m. CT in Arlington, Texas. Across the three-day tournament, K-State will face No. 9 Auburn (3-0), Nebraska (3-0) and Michigan (3-0).

– k-statesports.com –

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