Tuesday, March 24
Manhattan, Kan.
6 p.m.
Kansas State University
vs
Nebraska
Wildcats Set for Tuesday Tilt with No. 24 Cornhuskers
Mar 23, 2026 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State hosts No. 24 Nebraska on Tuesday at Tointon Family Stadium, with first pitch set for 6 p.m. CT.
K-State (17-7, 3-3 Big 12) is coming off its sixth run-rule victory of the season and first over Arizona State, after downing the Sun Devils, 12-1, behind a complete game by Lincoln Sheffield. Nebraska (18-6, 5-1 Big Ten), ranked No. 24 by D1Baseball, has won nine of its last 10 games, including a road series victory at Michigan last weekend.
Tuesday marks the second meeting between the Wildcats and Cornhuskers this season, with K-State earning a 5-3 win in Arlington at the College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field.
The midweek contest between the Wildcats (17-7, 3-3 Big 12) and Cornhuskers (18-6, 5-1 Big Ten) can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while a free live streaming audio is available for all games at KStateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app.
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.
GAME #25
K-State (17-7, 3-3 Big 12) vs. #24 Nebraska (18-6, 5-1 Big Ten)
Tuesday, March 24 // 6 PM CT // Tointon Family Stadium // Manhattan, KS
Projected Starters: RHP Cohen Feser (1-1, 2.25 ERA) vs. RHP Pryce Bender (0-0, 4.26 ERA)
Watch: ESPN+ // Matt Walters, Evan Marshall, Hannah Whetstone
Radio: KMAN // Brian Smoller, Wyatt Thompson
Listen: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats: kstate.statbroadcast.com
FOLLOW THE CATS
Tuesday's game can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app … A free live streaming audio is available for all games at KStateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app ... Fans can also follow along opening weekend action through live stats by visiting the team's schedule page or on the Cats social media platforms (@KStateBSB).
A LOOK AT K-STATE
The Wildcats (17-7, 3-3 Big 12) is coming off its sixth run-rule victory of the season, after topping Arizona State 12-1 in seven innings behind a complete game from Lincoln Sheffield … 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 … The win snapped a four-game losing streak to the Sun Devils ... Seven different players contributed to the Wildcats' 14-hit performance, led by three-hit games from Shintaro Inoue, Carlos Vasquez and Ty Smolinski ... K-State enters Tuesday's nightcap with a 3-2 record in midweek matchups, that includes a three-game winning streak … The Wildcats are hitting .244 in midweek games led by Grant Gallagher's 350 average, while K-State pitchers boast an impressive 1.87 ERA with a 4.9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in midweeks … K-State is 9-12 over since 2024 against teams featured in the D1Baseball Top 25 polls … Right-hander Cohen Feser (1-1, 2.25 ERA) will get his second start of the season against the Cornhuskers … The right-hander has struck out nine, while opponents are hitting .275 against him … The Wildcats are ranked 38th in the RPI standings – the fourth-best mark in the Big 12.
SCOUTING #24 NEBRASKA
Nebraska (18-6, 5-1 Big Ten) appeared at No. 24 in the D1Baseball rankings and No. 22 in Perfect Game's Top 25 after going 4-1 last week at Wichita State and Michigan … The No. 24 ranking is the program's first top-25 appearance since spending the first two weeks of the 2025 campaign in the polls, where the Huskers debuted at No. 24 in the preseason and rose to No. 23 in week two …
The Cornhuskers are 5-0 in midweek contests this season … Nebraska is 9-1 in its last 10 games, dropping the series opener at Michigan … Prior to the loss, Nebraska was on an 11-game winning streak … Dylan Carey leads the offense with a conference-leading 39 hits, hitting .394 with eight doubles, two triples, six home runs, 31 RBI and 21 runs scored … The Cornhuskers lead the Big 12 and rank 15th in the country with 264 total hits … Sophomore Pryce Bender (0-0, 4.26 ERA) is set to make his third start of the season against the Wildcats … Bender has seven strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings of work, while opposing hitters are hitting .229 against the right-hander.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Tuesday's midweek marks the 297th meeting between the two schools, with Nebraska leading the all-time series 177-119, dating back to 1898 … The Wildcats are 73-80 when playing the Cornhuskers in Manhattan … K-State is 5-5 against the Cornhuskers under Hughes, after taking two from Nebraska in 2025 … The Cats won the 2025 season-series against the Huskers, outscoring Nebraska 27-21 … K-State is 5-5 in the last 10 contests … In their last meeting on February 21, 2026, K-State's Carson Liggett fired 4 1/3 shutout innings, and Carlos Vasquez drove in a game-leading four RBI to lift the Wildcats to a 5-3 victory over Nebraska at the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
L, 0-8 – May 1, 2024 (Lincoln)
W, 9-6 – March 2, 2025 (Frisco, Texas)
W, 12-8 – March 25, 2025 (Manhattan)
L, 6-7 – April 29, 2025 (Lincoln)
W, 5-3 – February 21, 2026 (Arlington)
WELCOME TO TOINTON
The Wildcats turned in the best home record of any Big 12 team in 2025, finishing with a record of 18-3 (.857) – the program's second-best home winning percentage … K-State posted a school record .870 winning percentage 20-3 in 1987 … K-State baseball is 438-225 when playing at Tointon Family Stadium since its rededication in 2002 … In the Hughes era, K-State is 128-48 when playing at Tointon, posting a .727 winning percentage … Since 2021, the Cats are 110-35 (.759) when playing at home.
YES, SHEFF
Lincoln Sheffield tossed his first complete game of the season and the second of his K-State career, as he led K-State to a seven-inning, 12-1, victory over Arizona State – the first run-rule win over the Sun Devils in school history ... With the win, Sheffield was awarded his conference-leading fifth victory of the season and improved to 5-0 on the year ... The Flowood, Mississippi native surrendered one run in the opening frame but settled in to fire six consecutive shutout innings, retiring 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 held the hot offense that was averaging 11.7 hits per game and 9.4 runs per game to five hits (all singles) and finished with six strikeouts and one walk to pick up his 12th career victory at K-State ... He was one of only five Power 4 pitchers and the only one from the Big 12 to throw a complete game on the week.
LOS ON THE LOSE
Carlos Vasquez helped power K-State to a pair of run-rule victories over Big 12 foes Baylor and Arizona State, capping the week with an 8-for-15 (.533) performance at the plate to go along with a double, two home runs and a 1.588 OPS, while driving in a team-leading 10 RBI ... The senior from Lawrance, Kansas recorded a hit in all four games in Week 6, sparking an offense that out-hit (45-37) and outscored (41-27) opponents ... In the Wildcats' seven-inning victory over Baylor, Vasquez's two home runs and career-high seven RBI fueled K-State to its first run-rule win over the Bears in program history ... He followed with a three-hit performance against the Sun Devils in the series finale, helping secure the Wildcats' first run-rule victory over Arizona State, highlighted by the game-winning hit ... His 10 RBI on the week ranked second overall by Big 12 players and 17th in the country, while he recorded the league's fifth-best batting average.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
West Virginia and UCF sit atop the league standings with a 5-1 Big 12 record, followed by Arizona State, KU and Texas Tech at 4-2 to round out the top five … Cincinnati's Quinton Coats (player) was joined by TCU's Lance Davis (pitcher and co-newcomer) and Texas Tech's Connor Shouse (co-newcomer) as the Big 12 Baseball Players of the Week for the second week of league play.
CAN'T TOUCH THIS
K-State has recorded the second-most stolen bases in the Big 12 with 47, ranking 41st nationally … The Cats are 47-for-60 on the bases with a 78.3% success rate … Dee Kennedy leads the league with 15 stolen bases and sits 28th in Division I … He surpassed his career mark against Baylor, registering his second consecutive season with 10+ stolen bases.
RUNNIN' AND RULIN'
K-State has recorded a program record six run-rule victories in 2026 … Sunday's seven-inning win over Arizona State marked the first time in school history the Wildcats have run-ruled the Sun Devils ... K-State has 17 run-rule victories under eighth-year head coach Pete Hughes, the most by any head coach in program history.
BOMB SQUAD
K-State has recorded 38 home runs this season led by 11 from Kennedy, became the fastest player to reach double-digit home runs under Hughes … Kennedy is third in the Big 12 in home runs and ranks 12th nationally … 13 of 17 hitters have registered a home run this season, including nine with two or more this season … The Wildcats recorded a school record of eight home runs in a 20-7 victory against SIUE (March 8) … Home runs account for 77 of 214 RBI (36%) on the season … The team's 38 homers rank fifth in the Big 12 and 25th nationally, while the Cats post the country's 11th-best slugging percentage at .564 … Kennedy leads with two grand slams followed by Evasco and Vasquez with one … K-State has recorded two back-to-back home run performances in 2026, while five different players have multi-home run efforts: Kennedy, Smolinski, Madliak, Vasquez, Kendrick.
K-State (17-7, 3-3 Big 12) is coming off its sixth run-rule victory of the season and first over Arizona State, after downing the Sun Devils, 12-1, behind a complete game by Lincoln Sheffield. Nebraska (18-6, 5-1 Big Ten), ranked No. 24 by D1Baseball, has won nine of its last 10 games, including a road series victory at Michigan last weekend.
Tuesday marks the second meeting between the Wildcats and Cornhuskers this season, with K-State earning a 5-3 win in Arlington at the College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field.
The midweek contest between the Wildcats (17-7, 3-3 Big 12) and Cornhuskers (18-6, 5-1 Big Ten) can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while a free live streaming audio is available for all games at KStateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app.
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.
GAME #25
K-State (17-7, 3-3 Big 12) vs. #24 Nebraska (18-6, 5-1 Big Ten)
Tuesday, March 24 // 6 PM CT // Tointon Family Stadium // Manhattan, KS
Projected Starters: RHP Cohen Feser (1-1, 2.25 ERA) vs. RHP Pryce Bender (0-0, 4.26 ERA)
Watch: ESPN+ // Matt Walters, Evan Marshall, Hannah Whetstone
Radio: KMAN // Brian Smoller, Wyatt Thompson
Listen: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats: kstate.statbroadcast.com
FOLLOW THE CATS
Tuesday's game can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app … A free live streaming audio is available for all games at KStateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app ... Fans can also follow along opening weekend action through live stats by visiting the team's schedule page or on the Cats social media platforms (@KStateBSB).
A LOOK AT K-STATE
The Wildcats (17-7, 3-3 Big 12) is coming off its sixth run-rule victory of the season, after topping Arizona State 12-1 in seven innings behind a complete game from Lincoln Sheffield … 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 … The win snapped a four-game losing streak to the Sun Devils ... Seven different players contributed to the Wildcats' 14-hit performance, led by three-hit games from Shintaro Inoue, Carlos Vasquez and Ty Smolinski ... K-State enters Tuesday's nightcap with a 3-2 record in midweek matchups, that includes a three-game winning streak … The Wildcats are hitting .244 in midweek games led by Grant Gallagher's 350 average, while K-State pitchers boast an impressive 1.87 ERA with a 4.9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in midweeks … K-State is 9-12 over since 2024 against teams featured in the D1Baseball Top 25 polls … Right-hander Cohen Feser (1-1, 2.25 ERA) will get his second start of the season against the Cornhuskers … The right-hander has struck out nine, while opponents are hitting .275 against him … The Wildcats are ranked 38th in the RPI standings – the fourth-best mark in the Big 12.
SCOUTING #24 NEBRASKA
Nebraska (18-6, 5-1 Big Ten) appeared at No. 24 in the D1Baseball rankings and No. 22 in Perfect Game's Top 25 after going 4-1 last week at Wichita State and Michigan … The No. 24 ranking is the program's first top-25 appearance since spending the first two weeks of the 2025 campaign in the polls, where the Huskers debuted at No. 24 in the preseason and rose to No. 23 in week two …
The Cornhuskers are 5-0 in midweek contests this season … Nebraska is 9-1 in its last 10 games, dropping the series opener at Michigan … Prior to the loss, Nebraska was on an 11-game winning streak … Dylan Carey leads the offense with a conference-leading 39 hits, hitting .394 with eight doubles, two triples, six home runs, 31 RBI and 21 runs scored … The Cornhuskers lead the Big 12 and rank 15th in the country with 264 total hits … Sophomore Pryce Bender (0-0, 4.26 ERA) is set to make his third start of the season against the Wildcats … Bender has seven strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings of work, while opposing hitters are hitting .229 against the right-hander.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Tuesday's midweek marks the 297th meeting between the two schools, with Nebraska leading the all-time series 177-119, dating back to 1898 … The Wildcats are 73-80 when playing the Cornhuskers in Manhattan … K-State is 5-5 against the Cornhuskers under Hughes, after taking two from Nebraska in 2025 … The Cats won the 2025 season-series against the Huskers, outscoring Nebraska 27-21 … K-State is 5-5 in the last 10 contests … In their last meeting on February 21, 2026, K-State's Carson Liggett fired 4 1/3 shutout innings, and Carlos Vasquez drove in a game-leading four RBI to lift the Wildcats to a 5-3 victory over Nebraska at the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
L, 0-8 – May 1, 2024 (Lincoln)
W, 9-6 – March 2, 2025 (Frisco, Texas)
W, 12-8 – March 25, 2025 (Manhattan)
L, 6-7 – April 29, 2025 (Lincoln)
W, 5-3 – February 21, 2026 (Arlington)
WELCOME TO TOINTON
The Wildcats turned in the best home record of any Big 12 team in 2025, finishing with a record of 18-3 (.857) – the program's second-best home winning percentage … K-State posted a school record .870 winning percentage 20-3 in 1987 … K-State baseball is 438-225 when playing at Tointon Family Stadium since its rededication in 2002 … In the Hughes era, K-State is 128-48 when playing at Tointon, posting a .727 winning percentage … Since 2021, the Cats are 110-35 (.759) when playing at home.
YES, SHEFF
Lincoln Sheffield tossed his first complete game of the season and the second of his K-State career, as he led K-State to a seven-inning, 12-1, victory over Arizona State – the first run-rule win over the Sun Devils in school history ... With the win, Sheffield was awarded his conference-leading fifth victory of the season and improved to 5-0 on the year ... The Flowood, Mississippi native surrendered one run in the opening frame but settled in to fire six consecutive shutout innings, retiring 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 held the hot offense that was averaging 11.7 hits per game and 9.4 runs per game to five hits (all singles) and finished with six strikeouts and one walk to pick up his 12th career victory at K-State ... He was one of only five Power 4 pitchers and the only one from the Big 12 to throw a complete game on the week.
LOS ON THE LOSE
Carlos Vasquez helped power K-State to a pair of run-rule victories over Big 12 foes Baylor and Arizona State, capping the week with an 8-for-15 (.533) performance at the plate to go along with a double, two home runs and a 1.588 OPS, while driving in a team-leading 10 RBI ... The senior from Lawrance, Kansas recorded a hit in all four games in Week 6, sparking an offense that out-hit (45-37) and outscored (41-27) opponents ... In the Wildcats' seven-inning victory over Baylor, Vasquez's two home runs and career-high seven RBI fueled K-State to its first run-rule win over the Bears in program history ... He followed with a three-hit performance against the Sun Devils in the series finale, helping secure the Wildcats' first run-rule victory over Arizona State, highlighted by the game-winning hit ... His 10 RBI on the week ranked second overall by Big 12 players and 17th in the country, while he recorded the league's fifth-best batting average.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
West Virginia and UCF sit atop the league standings with a 5-1 Big 12 record, followed by Arizona State, KU and Texas Tech at 4-2 to round out the top five … Cincinnati's Quinton Coats (player) was joined by TCU's Lance Davis (pitcher and co-newcomer) and Texas Tech's Connor Shouse (co-newcomer) as the Big 12 Baseball Players of the Week for the second week of league play.
CAN'T TOUCH THIS
K-State has recorded the second-most stolen bases in the Big 12 with 47, ranking 41st nationally … The Cats are 47-for-60 on the bases with a 78.3% success rate … Dee Kennedy leads the league with 15 stolen bases and sits 28th in Division I … He surpassed his career mark against Baylor, registering his second consecutive season with 10+ stolen bases.
RUNNIN' AND RULIN'
K-State has recorded a program record six run-rule victories in 2026 … Sunday's seven-inning win over Arizona State marked the first time in school history the Wildcats have run-ruled the Sun Devils ... K-State has 17 run-rule victories under eighth-year head coach Pete Hughes, the most by any head coach in program history.
BOMB SQUAD
K-State has recorded 38 home runs this season led by 11 from Kennedy, became the fastest player to reach double-digit home runs under Hughes … Kennedy is third in the Big 12 in home runs and ranks 12th nationally … 13 of 17 hitters have registered a home run this season, including nine with two or more this season … The Wildcats recorded a school record of eight home runs in a 20-7 victory against SIUE (March 8) … Home runs account for 77 of 214 RBI (36%) on the season … The team's 38 homers rank fifth in the Big 12 and 25th nationally, while the Cats post the country's 11th-best slugging percentage at .564 … Kennedy leads with two grand slams followed by Evasco and Vasquez with one … K-State has recorded two back-to-back home run performances in 2026, while five different players have multi-home run efforts: Kennedy, Smolinski, Madliak, Vasquez, Kendrick.
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