Kennedy Sets Single-Season Home Run Record Saturday

Sunday, April 26

Manhattan, Kan.

11 a.m.

Kansas State University

Kansas

Apr 25, 2026 | Baseball

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Junior Dee Kennedy became the program's single-season home run leader Saturday, but No. 16 Kansas rallied for five runs in the ninth inning to secure a 10-8 victory at Tointon Family Stadium, clinching the Big 12 series.

Kennedy, who entered the day tied with Keegan O'Connor's mark of 17 home runs (2025), broke the record in his first at-bat to further cement his place in K-State history. The Fort Worth, Texas product added to his total in his next trip to the plate, recording his fourth multi-home run game of the season. He finished 3-for-4 with a game-high three RBI.

"[Kennedy] is going to down as one of the best players ever play here, obviously, with the records he's breaking," head coach Pete Hughes said. "He can do so many things to beat you. He's one home run and one stolen base away from being a 20/20 guy in college baseball – that's rare air. He's a difference maker. People have to be careful with him, and a lot of his teammates benefit from him being in the lineup because teams don't want to make a mistake with Dee, so they challenge our other guys. But he's also a great kid and teammate."

Trailing 5-3 after KU capitalized on defensive miscues in the eighth, the Wildcats (26-17, 9-11 Big 12) responded with a five-run burst in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by a three-run no-doubter from Cadyn Karl. Kansas (32-11, 16-4 Big 12) answered in the final frame, erupting for five runs behind Brady Ballinger's 11-pitch, go-ahead three-run homer.

"Yeah, heartbreaking, really," Hughes said. "Our kids did a lot of great things to win a game, but you've got to get 27 outs. That seems to be the storyline of the year. But I love the fight in our guys. Love our resiliency. We got big hits and did everything you need to do to win tight games and come back."

"We got beat by a 90-mph pop up to left field," Hughes added. "I can't really blame Miles Smith. I thought he made a good pitch. It was a heck of it an at-bat. Sometimes the game is cruel."

After allowing two runs in the second, Lincoln Sheffield tossed four consecutive scoreless frames, retiring 14 of the next 18 batters he faced to record his fourth quality start of the season. The senior left-hander capped his 11^th start of the season scattering six hits over 6 2/3 innings with three walks and seven strikeouts.

"Lincoln was unbelievable. It's too bad that outing kind of gets lost with the eighth inning on. He pitched well enough to win, and he deserved to get a win today. He's been rock solid and is always the guy we lean on when we need him most. He always comes through."

THE RUNDOWN
K-State took the lead early behind Kennedy's record-breaking home run in the first inning. A Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Semifinalist, Kennedy launched the first pitch he saw from starter Dominic Voegele to put the Wildcats ahead 1-0. He added a two-run shot in the third to give K-State a 3-2 lead after KU's Dariel Osoria hit a two-run homer.

Both starters fired four shutout frames before KU broke through in the eighth, capitalizing on a pair of fielding errors to take a 5-3 lead.

The Wildcats responded in the bottom of the inning, as Shintaro Inoue led off the with a double off the right field wall. Reliever Boede Rahe quickly recorded a pair of outs before walking Grant Gallagher to bring Karl to the plate. The centerfielder launched a 453-foot home run to left to give K-State the one-run lead, before three consecutive hits from Chandler Murray, Micah Kendrick and Nick English stretched the advantage to 8-5.

Tyson LeBlanc opened the ninth with an RBI single before Ballinger delivered the decisive blow with a go-ahead three-run homer. K-State was retired in order in the bottom of the ninth, sealing the Jayhawks' comeback victory.

INSIDE THE BOX

KU scored 10 runs on 13 hits, committed one error and left eight men on base, while K-State scored eight runs on nine hits with two errors committed and seven left on.
Toby Scheidt (3-1) earned the victory in relief, logging 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and a walk.
Sheffield tossed a game-high 6 2/3 innings, surrendering two earned runs on six hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Voegele threw six innings for KU, allowing three runs (earned) on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Seven different players recorded a hit for K-State.
Kennedy went 3-for-4 to lead the Wildcats with two home runs and a double, driving in a game-high three RBI.
Cade Baldridge went 3-for-4 for KU, while Ballinger drove in three RBI with his three-run homer in the ninth.
Miles Smith (2-3) suffered the loss, allowing five runs (earned) on four hits in his one inning in relief.

TEAM NOTES

KU leads the all-time series 204-196-1, while the Cats are 110-91-1 in games played in Manhattan.
With three home runs on Saturday, K-State totals 71 on the year, which ranks sixth all-time in school history.
It marked the team's 20^th multi-home run game, positing a 14-6 overall record when hitting two or more homers.
Saturday's loss moved K-State into a three-way tie for ninth with Cincinnati and Utah in the Big 12 standings.

PLAYER NOTES

Kennedy became the all-time single-season home run leader and recorded his fourth game of the year with two or more home runs.
With 30 career home runs, Kennedy ties sixth all-time alongside David Hendric (1993-96), becoming the seventh player in school history to reach the milestone.
Sheffield turned in his fourth quality start of the season, totaling nine in his K-State career.
Kennedy and AJ Evasco extended their hitting streaks to 11, while Inoue has reached base in 29 consecutive games.

ON DECK
Due to the potential of inclement weather developing in Manhattan, Sunday's game time has been moved up to 11 a.m. Gates and ticket windows will open at 10 a.m. Sunday's game can be seen ESPN+ and the ESPN app with radio coverage on K-State Sports Network. A free live audio is available at kstatesports.com/watch.

– k-statesports.com –

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