Sheffield Tosses Complete Game in Run-Rule Victory

Sunday, March 22

Manhattan, Kan.

1 p.m.

Kansas State University

17-7, 3-3

Arizona State

17-6, 4-2

Arizona State

Kansas State

Mar 22, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Twelve unanswered runs backed Lincoln Sheffield's complete game, as K-State downed Arizona State, 12-1, in seven innings Sunday afternoon at Tointon Family Stadium.

Trailing 1-0 headed into the bottom of the third, K-State erupted 12 runs over a three-inning span to secure its sixth run-rule victory of the season and first over Arizona State in school history. Seven different players contributed to the Wildcats' 14-hit performance, led by three-hit games from Shintaro Inoue, Carlos Vasquez and Ty Smolinski.

With the win, K-State improves to 17-7 overall with a 3-3 mark in Big 12 play, while ASU moved to 17-6 and 4-2 league action.

"I thought it was a great day for our program," eighth-year head coach Pete Hughes said. "It speaks to the toughness of our team, the character of our team and the resiliency of this squad after two heartbreaking losses when you had the game in hand on Friday and Saturday. It's frustrating for everyone, but for our guys to show up with energy and dictate the tempo of the game off a seasoned veteran pitcher was great to watch. It's just really a great win for our program."

Sheffield tossed his first complete game of the season and the second of his K-State career, improving to 5-0 on the year. The Flowood, Mississippi native surrendered one run in the opening frame but settled in to retire 15 of the last 20 batters he faced, while allowing just one runner to reach scoring position in his longest outing of the season. He finished with six strikeouts and one walk to pick up his 12^th career victory at K-State.

"I can't speak enough about Lincoln Sheffield and his performance against one of the top offenses in the country that was on fire," Hughes added. "He kept them at bay and allowed our offense to get settled in. I also can't say enough about our offensive game plan and the discipline on a day like this. When the wind is blowing in, you have to be super disciplined to execute the run game, the bunt game, and hit line drives and ground balls, and keep the ball out of the air. We were able to do all those things to get 14 hits in those conditions, which is just as impressive as Lincoln's performance."

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Sun Devils jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on the first six pitches of the game, fueled by back-to-back hits from Landon Hairston and PJ Moutzouridis. After allowing the lone run, Sheffield locked in and fired seven consecutive shutout innings, while allowing just three hits to help K-State build its lead.

After two scoreless frames, the Wildcats sent nine batters to the plate and exploded for five runs on six hits. Led by singles from Cadyn Karl and Inoue, Smolinski delivered a game-tying hit to center. Carlos Vasquez followed with a chopper to third that plated the go-ahead run.

The Wildcats expanded their lead to 5-1 on a two-out, two-run double to deep center from Grant Gallagher, who later scored on a wild throw to first.

Leading 5-1, the Wildcats tacked on seven runs between the fourth and fifth innings to secure the series finale.

INSIDE THE BOX

K-State scored 12 runs on 14 hits, committed no errors, and left six stranded on base, while holding ASU to one run and five hits.
ASU committed three errors and stranded three on base.
Sheffield (5-0) was awarded the victory, throwing seven innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts. He allowed five hits with one walk in the complete game.
Inoue, Smolinski and Vasquez each had three hits, and Gallagher added two, while all four drove in two RBI.
Moutzouridis led ASU with two hits and Toigo drove in the RBI.
Klecker (3-1) suffered the loss, allowing 11 runs (9 earned) on 12 hits over his 4 2/3-inning start. He struck out five and issued three walks.
Musso logged 1 1/3 innings in relief of Klecker and allowed one earned run on two hits.
The Wildcats turned three double plays.

TEAM NOTES

K-State is 3-7 in the all-time series with ASU, that includes a 2-2 record in games played in Manhattan.
It is the first victory against ASU since March 10, 2009, snapping a four-game losing streak to the Sun Devils.
Sunday's contest marked the first seven-inning game in the series.
The Wildcats improved to 8-3 at home.
In 24 games, K-State recorded 10+ hits in 12, while scoring double-digit runs in 11.
K-State has won 11 of its last 15 games, including eight at home.
Two players have thrown complete games this season (Sheffield vs. ASU, March 22; Tanner Duke at Houston March 14).
The victory marked the team's sixth run-rule victory of the season, and fourth in the last seven games.

PLAYER NOTES

Sheffield recorded his second complete game at K-State – first of the season – and tossed a season-high seven innings. He has recorded six or more strikeouts in three of six starts this season.
With their three-hit performances, Inoue and Vasquez turned in their ninth multi-hit games, tying for the second-best mark on the team.
Vasquez produced his eighth game with two or more RBI, ranking second on the team.
Smolinski has reached base in 16 consecutive games to lead the team, followed by Kennedy (13), Vasquez (11) and Inoue (10).

ON DECK
The Wildcats return to Tointon Family Stadium to host Nebraska (18-6, 5-1 Big Ten) Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT. The midweek matchup marks the second meeting between the two squads this season, with K-State taking game one, 5-3, at Globe Life Field in Week 2. Tuesday's game 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.