Guyette, Madliak Lead Cats to Series-Opening Win

Friday, March 27

Salt Lake City, Utah

7 p.m.

Kansas State University

18-8, 18-8

Utah

13-10, 3-4

Kansas State

Utah

Mar 28, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Ten strikeouts from James Guyette and a pair of homers by Bear Madliak lifted K-State to an 8-5 series-opening victory over Utah Friday night at Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark.

The Wildcats (18-8, 4-3 Big 12) plated six runs over a two-inning span, highlighted by a five-run fourth inning. Five of the Wildcats 10 hits – the team's 14^th game registering double-digit hits – went for extra bases, led by two no-doubters and a double from Madliak. A product of Carrollton, Georgia, Madliak registered his third multi-home run game at K-State and second of the season.

"We needed a great effort, number one, by James Guyette, and he went deep into the game and I thought did really good," said head coach Pete Hughes, who is in his eighth season at the helm of the program. "His fastball was as good as it has been all season long and Adam Arther was awesome coming out of the pen."

"Offensively, we got a big night out of Cadyn Karl and specifically Bear [Madliak]. He got the big hits against one of the best arms in our league, in my opinion, and got our team going on a Friday night on the road," Hughes added.

Guyette became the first Wildcat in 2026 to reach double-digit strikeouts this season and the first since Michael Quevedo on May 3, 2025, at BYU. The Newbury Park, California, product logged six innings for the third time in his K-State career and held the Utes (13-10, 3-4 Big 12) to three runs before handing the ball over to Arther, who earned his second save of the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After giving up a leadoff double, Guyette settled in and retired seven of the next 10 batters without allowing a runner to reach scoring position.

Madliak put the Wildcats on the board in the third, as the senior catcher launched a 419-foot no-doubter over the wall in left field to hand K-State a 1-0 lead.

K-State took advantage of a pair of walks and a fielder's choice to load the bases with two outs in the fourth. Following a mound visit, centerfielder Cadyn Karl took the first pitch he faced from Colter McAnelley into left field to plate a pair of runs.

With runners on first and second, Madliak lifted his second home run of the game to left center, making it a 6-0 ballgame.

After four scoreless innings, the Utes ended the shutout bid with doubles by Blake Eckerle and Jake Long. A two-run homer by Daniel Arambula trimmed the deficit to three before Guyette recorded the final two outs to preserve the lead.

The Wildcats expanded their lead to four, 7-3, as Madliak doubled into left field and came across the plate on a base hit to center from Grant Gallagher. Karl delivered a two-out double in the eighth to stretch the lead, 8-3.

Jet Gilliam hit a two-run double in the eighth to bring the score back within three. Utah looked to capitalize on a fielding error that put the tying-run on deck, but Arther set down the Utes in order to finish off his third-career save.

INSIDE THE BOX

K-State scored eight runs on 10 hits with one error committed and leaving four runners on base. Utah scored five runs on nine hits, committed no errors and left seven on base.
Five Wildcats contributed a hit in the win, led by Madliak going 3-for-4 with a game-leading four RBI and three runs scored.
Madliak homered twice and doubled.
Karl, Dee Kennedy and Ty Smolinski each added two hits, while Karl drove in two RBI.
Guyette struck out a career-high 10, finishing the night allowing three earned runs on six hits with two walks to move to 4-1.
Arther earned his second save, allowing two earned runs on two hits over three innings in relief of Guyette.
Arambula homered for Utah, driving in two RBI.
Gilliam went 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Utes' offense, while Jacobs had two hits.
McAnelly (2-4) suffered the loss, allowing six runs (earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts.
Ian Culver and Anson McGorman each surrendered a run in relief of McAnelly.
K-State hit .308 (4-for-13) with two outs, with six of its eight runs coming with two away.

TEAM NOTES

K-State leads the all-time series 9-1 against Utah with a current four-game winning streak, while Friday's game marks the series first matchup in Salt Lake City.
The Wildcats improve to 12-3 when scoring first and post a 9-2 record when hitting two or more home runs.
K-State has had seven multi-home run performances this season.
Cats have registered four straight games with 10+ runs, totaling 50 in the stretch (12.5 per game).
In 26 games, K-State has registered 14 games reaching double-digit hits, going 11-3.
Since the league expansion in 2024, the Wildcats are 22-12 against Big 12 newcomers.

PLAYER NOTES

Madliak recorded his second multi-home run performance of the season and third of his K-State career.
Guyette struck out a career-high 10 – the most by any Wildcat in 2026 and first pitcher since May 3, 2025 (Michael Quevedo vs. BYU)
Smolinski is the fourth player to drop a bunt single this season, joining Robby Bolin (2), Carlos Vasquez (2), and Gallagher.
In 26 games, Kennedy has registered two or more hits in 12, as the only player to register 10+ multi-hit games this season.
Smolinski stretched his on-base streak to 18, while Karl is the fourth player to have an 10-game active streak – Smolinski (18), Kennedy (15), Inoue (12), Karl (10).

ON DECK
The Wildcats return to America First Ballpark Saturday afternoon for game two of the series, with first pitch set for 3 p.m. CT. The game will be available on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, with radio coverage on KMAN.

– k-statesports.com –

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