Six-Run Fifth Lifts K-State to Series-Clinching Win

Saturday, March 7

Manhattan, Kan.

4 p.m.

Kansas State University

10-4

SIUE

5-10

SIUE

Kansas State

Mar 07, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Micah Kendrick's three-run homer highlighted K-State's six-run fifth inning, as the Wildcats clinched the weekend series with an 8-4 victory over SIUE on Saturday afternoon at Tointon Family Stadium.

"Really good, clean ball game," K-State skipper Pete Hughes said. "I thought overall, in every phase, we played well. We got the big hit from Micah Kendrick, and we have a lot of kids contributing right now."

The Wildcats (10-4, 0-0 Big 12) dug themselves into a 3-1 hole after a three-run homer by Chase Bloomer, but rallied to even the score before breaking the game open with Kendrick's shot – a 394-foot blast off the scoreboard. With the win, K-State captured its 11^th consecutive series victory at Tointon Family Stadium dating back to the 2024 season.

"Of course, it never happens without a good start and Tanner Duke gave us another great start. I thought Matt Flores and Tazwell Butler were outstanding out of the pen. That's a really good offensive team that we held to five of hits," Hughes added.

Tanner Duke (1-1) was solid in his third start of the season, holding the Cougars (5-10, 0-0 Ohio Valley) to three earned runs over five innings with a career-high seven strikeouts on his way to pick up the win. The right-hander scattered just two hits in the outing before handing the ball over to Flores, who logged 3 2/3 innings of one-run ball. Tazwell Butler was credited the save after striking out the final batter.

"Good series win for the boys. Keep that momentum going, try to play clean baseball and build on that tomorrow."

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wildcats opened scoring for the second time of the series in the opening frame with an RBI single from Grant Gallagher.

SIUE broke through in the top of the third, as shortstop Chase Bloomer launched a three-run homer to left field to erase the deficit. After surrendering the homer, Duke struck out the side to keep the score within two, 3-1.

A throwing error by starter Tim Teixeira trimmed SIUE's lead to one, until K-State broke the game open with six runs in the fifth.

Shintaro Inoue drove in a run before a double steal by AJ Evasco and Ty Smolinski pulled K-State ahead. With two outs, Kendrick barreled his first no-doubter of the season off the scoreboard in right field to hand the Wildcats a 7-3 lead.

Flores, a transfer from UC Riverside, relieved Duke in the sixth and went on to retire 12 of the 15 batters he faced out of the bullpen.

With one out in the ninth, SIUE scratched across a run on a triple by Brenden Fry to threaten the lead. The Cougars brought the tying run to the plate with bases loaded but were left stranded, as Butler used six pitches to strike out the final batter.

INSIDE THE BOX

K-State scored eight runs on 11 hits, committed one error and left eight on base.
SIUE scored four runs on five hits with one error and stranding seven men on base.
The Wildcats sent 10 to the plate in the fifth, scoring six runs on four hits.
Dee Kennedy and AJ Evasco each went 2-for-4, while the Daniel Gierer was the only Cougar to produce a multi-hit game (2-for-3).
K-State's Kendrick and SIUE's Bloomer each homered Saturday, both recording a game-leading three RBI.
Eight different players registered a hit for K-State, with the heart of the lineup going 5-for-10 (.500) with three walks.
Duke (1-1) earned the victory, allowing three runs (earned) and two hits in his five-inning start, while Butler earned the save.
Teixeira (0-3) suffered the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits with five walks and four strikeouts.
SIUE relievers surrendered four runs (earned) on five hits over four combined innings.
Flores surrendered one run in his 3 2/3 inning appearance out of the pen.
K-State hit .429 (3-for-7) with runners in scoring position, while SIUE hit .273 (3-for-11).

TEAM NOTES

The Wildcats lead the all-time series 2-0 with the Cougars, while they move to 20-9 against teams from the Ohio Valley Conference.
K-State has hit five home runs in the series vs. SIUE.
In 14 games, K-State posts a 4-1 record when recording 10 or more hits.
The Wildcats improve to 5-1 at home in 2026. Since 2021, K-State is 106-33 when playing at home.
Dating back to the 2024 season, K-State has won 11 consecutive series at Tointon Family Stadium, going 25-7 in the stretch.
The pitching staff recorded their third consecutive game with 12 strikeouts. K-State pitchers have struck out 10+ batters in four of the last five games and six times overall on the season.

PLAYER NOTES

Kendrick, a transfer from Folsom Lake College, recorded his first NCAA collegiate home run.
Evasco is the first player to steal home since Kyan Lodice vs. Utah on March 15, 2025.
Duke struck out a career-high seven batters, surpassing his previous mark of six set last season vs. Missouri State (April 8).
Gallagher stretched his hitting streak to seven, while Robby Bolin successfully reached base for the 13^th straight game.

UP NEXT
Sunday's series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT at Tointon Family Stadium and can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while radio coverage is available on the K-State Sports Network. A free live audio is available at kstatesports.com/watch. Single-game tickets can be purchased at kstatesports.com, calling 1-800-221-CATS (2287) or by stopping by the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.

– k-statesports.com –

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