Friday, March 13
Houston, Texas
6:30 p.m.
Kansas State University
14-4, 1-0
20
at
8
Houston
11-6, 0-1
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Kansas State
0
2
1
0
4
3
2
8
20
20
0
Houston
2
1
0
0
0
4
0
1
8
6
1
Wildcats Mash Past Cougars in Historic Big 12 Opener, 20-8
Mar 14, 2026 | Baseball
HOUSTON, Texas – The Wildcats erupted for 10 runs over the seventh and eighth innings to capture a Big 12 opening victory, powering past Houston, 20-8, in eight innings Friday night at Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park.
Tied 3-3 headed into the fifth, K-State (14-4, 1-0 Big 12) exploded for 17 runs over a four-inning span, led by Nick English's game-changing pinch-hit double and Shintaro Inoue's three-run blast. The Wildcats' 20 runs are the most runs scored in a conference opener in the program's history, surpassing the previous mark of 17 runs in a 7-7 victory over Kansas in 1929.
"It was a groundbreaking game in a lot of ways, but it was also as ugly as a Friday night contest in the Big 12 can get on both sides, really," said K-State skipper Pete Hughes. "You know, we're balking people in, hit by pitches, walks, leaving runners on base – but that's baseball too. It's a difficult game, and I do appreciate that at the high level we're playing. So, it is hard."
"But I saw a lot of teammates picking up teammates who've been really good for us. [James Guyette] is our guy and you're not going to have great nights every night. His teammates picked him up. I saw a team that was hungry to score more runs and answer every time Houston scored. I saw a lot of resiliency. I saw an unselfish teammate come out of the bullpen warming pitchers up and get a pinch-hit situation that turned the whole tide of the game in Nick English. To me, we may have broken a school record tonight, but it was Nick English's pinch hit that I'll always remember from this night."
For the fourth season in a row, K-State opened Big 12 play in the win column. The victory extended the Wildcats' winning streak to eight – the longest active streak in the league – and marked the 16th-longest winning streak in program history. In the Hughes era, K-State has recorded four the program's top 16 winning streaks.
The Wildcats capped the night with 20 hits, including multi-hit efforts from five different players. Inoue became the first Wildcat this season to produce a five-hit game, as the Yamaguchi, Japan, product finished the night 5-for-6 with a career-high and game-leading six RBI.
The victory marks the fourth-straight win over the Cougars on their home turf, as the Wildcats move to 8-4 in the all-time series. Houston fell to 11-6 (0-1 Big 12), snapping its four-game winning streak.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Houston spotted Guyette (3-1) for a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, as the junior right-hander walked in both runs.
The Wildcats quickly loaded the bases before Bear Madliak roped a two-run double down the left field line to erase the early deficit.
Houston pulled ahead on a called balk, but the Wildcats leveled the score for the second time with Inoue's infield single, forcing the Cougars to make their first call to the pen.
Tied 3-3, K-State loaded the bases with one out and called on English off the bench. The junior hammered the fourth pitch he faced off reliever Chris Scinta (1-3) to straightaway centerfield to plate two runs and give the Wildcats the lead.
A sacrifice fly to left by Madliak in the next at bat followed by a shot to centerfield from Carlos Vasquez expanded the Wildcats lead to four, 7-3.
In the sixth, Inoue shelled a three-run blast 371-feet over the right field wall, pushing the Wildcats into double figures. Houston responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning to make it three-run ball game, 10-7.
Madliak registered his third hit of the day before Micah Kendrick doubled down the left field line against the shift to move the duo into scoring position. Dee Kennedy and Ty Smolinski each drove in a run to push the lead back to five and put the game away.
INSIDE THE BOX
Game two between the Wildcats and Cougars is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Schroeder Park. Saturday's contest can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
– 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.
Tied 3-3 headed into the fifth, K-State (14-4, 1-0 Big 12) exploded for 17 runs over a four-inning span, led by Nick English's game-changing pinch-hit double and Shintaro Inoue's three-run blast. The Wildcats' 20 runs are the most runs scored in a conference opener in the program's history, surpassing the previous mark of 17 runs in a 7-7 victory over Kansas in 1929.
"It was a groundbreaking game in a lot of ways, but it was also as ugly as a Friday night contest in the Big 12 can get on both sides, really," said K-State skipper Pete Hughes. "You know, we're balking people in, hit by pitches, walks, leaving runners on base – but that's baseball too. It's a difficult game, and I do appreciate that at the high level we're playing. So, it is hard."
"But I saw a lot of teammates picking up teammates who've been really good for us. [James Guyette] is our guy and you're not going to have great nights every night. His teammates picked him up. I saw a team that was hungry to score more runs and answer every time Houston scored. I saw a lot of resiliency. I saw an unselfish teammate come out of the bullpen warming pitchers up and get a pinch-hit situation that turned the whole tide of the game in Nick English. To me, we may have broken a school record tonight, but it was Nick English's pinch hit that I'll always remember from this night."
For the fourth season in a row, K-State opened Big 12 play in the win column. The victory extended the Wildcats' winning streak to eight – the longest active streak in the league – and marked the 16th-longest winning streak in program history. In the Hughes era, K-State has recorded four the program's top 16 winning streaks.
The Wildcats capped the night with 20 hits, including multi-hit efforts from five different players. Inoue became the first Wildcat this season to produce a five-hit game, as the Yamaguchi, Japan, product finished the night 5-for-6 with a career-high and game-leading six RBI.
The victory marks the fourth-straight win over the Cougars on their home turf, as the Wildcats move to 8-4 in the all-time series. Houston fell to 11-6 (0-1 Big 12), snapping its four-game winning streak.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Houston spotted Guyette (3-1) for a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, as the junior right-hander walked in both runs.
The Wildcats quickly loaded the bases before Bear Madliak roped a two-run double down the left field line to erase the early deficit.
Houston pulled ahead on a called balk, but the Wildcats leveled the score for the second time with Inoue's infield single, forcing the Cougars to make their first call to the pen.
Tied 3-3, K-State loaded the bases with one out and called on English off the bench. The junior hammered the fourth pitch he faced off reliever Chris Scinta (1-3) to straightaway centerfield to plate two runs and give the Wildcats the lead.
A sacrifice fly to left by Madliak in the next at bat followed by a shot to centerfield from Carlos Vasquez expanded the Wildcats lead to four, 7-3.
In the sixth, Inoue shelled a three-run blast 371-feet over the right field wall, pushing the Wildcats into double figures. Houston responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning to make it three-run ball game, 10-7.
Madliak registered his third hit of the day before Micah Kendrick doubled down the left field line against the shift to move the duo into scoring position. Dee Kennedy and Ty Smolinski each drove in a run to push the lead back to five and put the game away.
INSIDE THE BOX
- K-State scored 20 runs on 20 hits with no errors committed and stranding nine on base while Houston scored eight runs on six hits, committed one error and left six on base.
- Ten different players produced a hit for K-State, with five recording multi-hit efforts.
- Inoue led all players with a career-high five hits (5-for-6) and a career-high six RBI.
- Madliak and Kennedy each turned in three hits, followed by Kendrick and Evasco with two.
- Kennedy stole two bases and Gallagher one, while two players stole a base for Houston.
- Gallagher scored five runs for the Wildcats and Inoue scored four.
- Guyette (3-1) was awarded the victory, allowing six runs (earned) on four hits with four strikeouts and issuing six walks over 5 1/3 innings.
- Cole Wisenbaker, Tazwell Butler, and Adan Longoria each made an appearance out of the pen, combining for 2 2/3 innings with two runs (earned) on two hits.
- Scincta (1-3) suffered the loss in relief of starter Paul Schmitz, who was tagged for three runs (earned) on five hits in 2 1/3 innings. Scincta allowed four earned runs on four hits in his 2 2/3 outing.
- Seven pitchers made an appearance on the mound for Houston.
- The Cats' bullpen held Houston to two runs in 2 2/3 innings in relief of Guyette.
- The Wildcats' 20 runs are the most runs scored in a conference opener in the program's history, surpassing the previous mark of 17 runs in a 17-7 victory over Kansas in 1929.
- K-State has won eight consecutive games, marking the longest active win streak in the Big 12.
- K-State leads the all-time series 8-4, that includes a 6-2 advantage in games played in Houston. The Wildcats have won four in a row in Houston against the Cougars.
- Friday's contest marked the second time K-State and Houston met in a Big 12 opener, and first since 2024 where K-State swept the series.
- K-State is 4-6 in the last 10 Big 12 openers with a 4-3 record in the Hughes era.
- The Wildcats are 8-1 when recording 10 or more hits in a game,
- Over the last six games, the Wildcats have generated double digit hits in five of those, totaling 80 hits in the stretch.
- It marked the most runs scored in a Big 12 game since April 16, 2023, at Kansas (K-State 21, KU 18) and ninth time in school history K-State scored 20+ runs against a Big 12 foe.
- The teams 20 hits Friday night are the most against a Big 12 opponent in the Hughes era.
- K-State last recorded a run-rule victory over a Big 12 member on March 16, 2025, vs. Utah (K-State 14, Utah 2 [7 inn.]).
- This season, K-State is the only Big 12 school to score 20+ runs in three games, and only school to have 20 or more hits in two games.
- With his two stolen bases, Kennedy now has 11 steals on the season. He's one short of matching his career-best set in 2025 (12), while he stretched his hitting streak to six with his single in the first.
- Inoue earned his fourth multi-hit and -RBI game of the season, to go along with his second home run of the season. He is the third Wildcat to produce a six-RBI game this season, joining Kennedy and Smolinski.
- Inoue is the first Wildcat to record five hits in a game since Keegan O'Connor at BYU on May 2, 2025.
- In his last four games, Madliak has turned in three multi-hit and -RBI games, tallying nine RBI in the stretch. He registered his first three-hit effort since April 8, 2025 vs. Missouri State.
- Karl recorded the second two-RBI game of the season and his career.
Game two between the Wildcats and Cougars is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Schroeder Park. Saturday's contest can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
– 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 (3-1)
L: Scinta, Chris (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Kennedy, Dee 1 ; Karl, Cadyn 1 ; Madliak, Bear 1 ; Vasquez, Carlos 1 ; Inoue, Shintaro 1 ; Gallagher, Grant 1 ; English, Nick 1 ; Lodice, Kyan 1 ; Kendrick, Micah 1
HR: Inoue, Shintaro 1
RBI: Kennedy, Dee 2 ; Karl, Cadyn 2 ; Madliak, Bear 3 ; Vasquez, Carlos 1 ; Inoue, Shintaro 6 ; Evasco, AJ 1 ; English, Nick 2 ; Lodice, Kyan 1 ; Kendrick, Micah 1 ; Smolinski, Ty 1
SF: Madliak, Bear 1 ; Smolinski, Ty 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kennedy, Dee 1 ; Karl, Cadyn 1 ; Madliak, Bear 2 ; Vasquez, Carlos 2 ; Inoue, Shintaro 4 ; Gallagher, Grant 5 ; Evasco, AJ 2 ; English, Nick 1 ; Lodice, Kyan 1 ; Kendrick, Micah 1
SB: Kennedy, Dee 2 ; Gallagher, Grant 1
CS: Inoue, Shintaro 1 ; Smolinski, Ty 1
HBP: Kennedy, Dee 1 ; Vasquez, Carlos 2 ; Gallagher, Grant 1 ; Smolinski, Ty 1
Batting:
3B: LaLima, Jackson 1
RBI: Broussard, Tre 1 ; Perez, Xavier 1 ; Savattere, Antonelli 1 ; Maxcey, Dylan 1 ; Dickens, Peyton 1
SF: Dickens, Peyton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LaLima, Jackson 1 ; Broussard, Tre 1 ; Cox, Tyler 1 ; Perez, Xavier 2 ; Helton, McClane 1 ; Maxcey, Dylan 1 ; Fields, Blake 1
SB: Perez, Xavier 1 ; Helton, McClane 1
HBP: Cox, Tyler 1 ; Helton, McClane 1 ; Maxcey, Dylan 1
Game Leaders
AB
6
R
4
H
5
RBI
6
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
RHP
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C/OF
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RHP
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INF
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RHP
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INF
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INF
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LHP
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