Friday, May 1
Morgantown, W.V.
5:30 p.m.
Kansas State University
at
West Virginia
K-State Takes on No. 18 West Virginia Friday in Morgantown
Apr 30, 2026 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State sets out to take on No. 18 West Virginia in a three-game Big 12 set in Morgantown, W.V., starting Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT at Waegner Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
The middle game of the series is set for 3 p.m. CT start on Saturday while the finale will begin at 12 p.m. on Sunday. The Mountaineers (28-12, 13-8 Big 12) are tied fourth in the league standings alongside TCU, while K-State (26-19, 9-12 Big 12) is tied ninth.
WVU holds an 21-17 edge in the all-time series against K-State, including an 21-15 record in Big 12 action and 11-4 lead in Morgantown. Friday's contest marks K-State's fifth consecutive game against a Top 25 opponent.
The three-game Big 12 will stream on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while radio coverage is available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM). A free live stream audio is available for K-State baseball games at kstatesports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app.
Single-game tickets are available for all Wildcat home games at Tointon Family Stadium, fans can visit kstatesports.com/tickets call 1-800-221-CATS (2287), or stop by the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
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 46
K-State (26-19, 9-12 Big 12) at #18 West Virginia (28-12, 13-8 Big 12)
Friday, May 1 // 5:30 PM CT // Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark // Morgantown, WV
Projected Starters: RHP Tazwell Butler (0-2, 6.00 ERA) vs. LHP Maxx Yehl (5-1, 2.41 ERA)
Watch: ESPN+ // Jon Morosi
Radio: KMAN // Brian Smoller
Listen: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats: kstate.statbroadcast.com
GAME 47
K-State (26-19, 9-12 Big 12) at #18 West Virginia (28-12, 13-8 Big 12)
Saturday, May 2 // 3 PM CT // Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark // Morgantown, WV
Projected Starters: LHP Lincoln Sheffield (6-1, 4.82 ERA) vs. RHP Chansen Cole (7-1, 2.91 ERA)
Watch: ESPN+ // Jon Morosi
Radio: KMAN // Brian Smoller
Listen: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats: kstate.statbroadcast.com
GAME 48
K-State (26-19, 9-12 Big 12) at #18 West Virginia (28-12, 13-8 Big 12)
Sunday, May 3 // 12 PM CT // Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark // Morgantown, WV
Projected Starters: RHP James Guyette (5-2, 5.79 ERA) vs. Dawnson Montesa (3-5, 6.00 ERA)
Watch: ESPN+ // Jon Morosi
Radio: KMAN // Brian Smoller
Listen: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats: kstate.statbroadcast.com
THE MATCHUP
K-State sets out to take on No. 18 West Virginia in a three-game Big 12 set in Morgantown, W.V., starting Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT at Waegner Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark … The middle game of the series is set for 3 p.m. CT start on Saturday while the finale will begin at 12 p.m. on Sunday. The Mountaineers (28-12, 13-8 Big 12) are tied fourth in the league standings alongside TCU, while K-State (26-19, 9-12 Big 12) is tied ninth.
FOLLOW THE CATS
The three-game Big 12 will stream on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while radio coverage is available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) ... A free live stream audio is available for K-State baseball 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
K-State continues a challenging stretch to end the regular season, as it will face its third straight nationally ranked opponent … The Wildcats fell to 26-19 overall after dropping a 7-6 decision to Nebraska Tuesday night, marking the teams fourth consecutive loss – its longest losing-streak of the season … Last weekend, Dee Kennedy became the all-time single season home run leader, belting his record-breaking 18th homer in game two before extending his record to 19 for his fourth multi-home run game … Ty Smolinski recorded his first collegiate grand slam in the series finale – an eight-hour, 17-minute game Sunday afternoon … The Wildcats homered three times against Nebraska, bringing the season total to 75 … K-State has stolen 78 bases this season, becoming one of only two programs in the nation to have 75 or more home runs and stolen bases.
THE WILDCAT ROTATION
Friday: Tazwell Butler (0-2, 6.00 ERA) will get his first start of the season Friday … Butler leads the team with seven saves and has struck out 39 over 33 innings with opponents hitting .213 against him.
Saturday: Lincoln Sheffield (6-1, 4.82 ERA) is third in the conference in victories … Sheffield is averaging 1.90 walks allowed per nine innings – the fourth-best mark in the conference.
Sunday: James Guyette (5-1, 5.79 ERA) leads the pitching staff with a season-high 81 strikeouts and 12.02 strikeouts per nine innings ranking fourth in the Big 12 in both categories, respectively … Guyette struck out a career- and team-high 12 batters in the series opener vs. OSU … He is the first Wildcat to strike out 12 since 2023.
SCOUTING #18 WEST VIRGINIA
The Mountaineers (28-12, 13-8 Big 12) coming off a series loss on the road at Cincinnati after dropping the rubber match, 7-5, Sunday … WVU sits in fourth in the Big 12, four games back of KU in the lead ... WVU, which ranks 18th by D1Baseball, 16th by NCBWA and 20th by Baseball America and USA Today, is led by second-year head coach Steve Sabins, who boasts a 72-28 career record … WVU's offense is led by sophomore Gavin Kelly, who posts a team-best .394 average, 38 RBIs, and six home runs … Junior Armani Guzman leads the league with 24 stolen bases ... Senior Paul Schoenfeld is second on the team with 82 total bases, to go along with a .369 average … The Mountaineers leads the Big 12 with a .978 fielding percentage, averaging a double play per game, which ranks seventh in the nation … Left-handed pitcher Maxx Yehl (5-1) will get Friday's start … He leads the staff with a 2.41 ERA and is second on the team with 62 strikeouts … Chansen Cole (7-1, 2.91 ERA) is scheduled to start on the hill Saturday with Dawson Montesa (3-5, 6.00 ERA) getting Sunday's nod … Last season, WVU advanced to the NCAA Baton Rouge Super Regional, marking the team's second straight super regional appearance.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Friday marks the 40th meeting between West Virginia and K-State with the Mountaineers leading the all-time series 21-17 since the series start in 2013, with the series tied 11-4 advantage in games played in Morgantown … Last season, K-State used seven-run eighth-inning rally to claim the Big 12 series vs. WVU with a 14-9 victory … K-State is 5-5 in the last 10 meetings between the two programs … The Wildcats are 9-11 against the Mountaineers under head coach Pete Hughes.
LAST 5 MEETINGS
L, 5-12 – May 12, 2024 (Morgantown)
W, 8-4 – May 22, 2024 (Arlington)
W, 8-7 – May 9, 2025 (Manhattan)
L, 3-10 – May 10, 2025 (Manhattan)
W, 14-9 – May 11, 2025 (Manhattan)
THE STRENGTH OF 2026
Thirteen of K-State's 27 opponents this season currently hold an RPI of 60 or higher, including eight foes with an RPI higher than 40 … With 11 scheduled games left of the regular season, all but one will be against Quad-1 opponents … In Big 12 play, 24 of the team's 30 conference games are against teams with an RPI of 60 or better … K-State has won 15 victories (away + neutral) on the road, which is the third-most by any Big 12 team this season) … Of K-State's 19 losses, 16 were against Quad-1 or Quad 2 opponents … K-State is 12-3 against Quad-3/4 teams.
HOME RUN KING
Junior Dee Kennedy became the program's single-season home run leader Saturday ... Kennedy, who entered the day with a record-tying 17 home runs, broke the mark 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 ... With 65 RBI's this season, which is ranks third overall nationally, Kennedy ties fourth all-time in the single-season records ... He is the first K-State player since 2010 to record 65+ RBI in a season ... He stole his 20th base of the season and is a home run away from becoming the fifth player in Big 12 history to ever produce a 20-home run/20-stolen base season.
A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS
K-State has a season +106 run differential through 45 games, averaging 9.1 runs on 10.7 hits ... Cats are 19-6 when leading after six innings 1-3 when tied after six ... K-State is 10-6 when committing no errors in a game … Conversely, K-State has won 16 games when one or more errors are committed, 16-13 overall ... The Wildcats are 15-6 when scoring first and 10-5 when scoring in the first inning … K-State has outhit opponents in 20 contests (19-1) this season and is 5-16 when being outhit, and 2-2 when hits are tied … The Cats are 18-5 when limiting opponents to five or less runs and are 5-10 in games decided by two or fewer runs … K-State is 11-11 when playing afternoon games and 15-8 when playing under the lights … The Cats have won 22 games against right-handed starters while going 4-5 against lefties.
HEAVY HITTERS
K-State has proven to be one of the nation's top offenses, ranking within the nation's top 10 in several categories … K-State is second in the country in total doubles (117), eighth in slugging percentage (.547), fifth in total runs scored (409), 10th in scoring (9.1 runs per game) … The team's .312 batting average ranks 20th among all Division I programs, while ranking 21st in home runs (75) and 21st with a .419 team on-base percentage … Seven starters are hitting over .300 (min. 20 starts).
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Kansas leads the Big 12 league standings with a 17-4 mark in conference games – its best conference start in program history … Arizona State and UCF are three games behind and tied second at 14-7 followed by West Virginia and TCU at 13-8 rounding out the top five … K-State is in a three-way tie for ninth in the standings alongside Utah and Baylor … Kansas' Tyson Owens (player and newcomer), Arizona's Luc Fladda (co-pitcher) and UCF's Camden Wicker (co-pitcher) were named the Big 12 Baseball Players of the Week for the 11th week of the 2026 season.
2026 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2026 Big 12 Baseball Tournament presented by Allstate will be played at Surprise Stadium, the spring training home of the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers, located in Surprise, Arizona ... The top 12 teams in the regular season standings will compete in the tournament.
POWER SUPPLY
K-State has 75 home runs this season led by a school-record 19 from Kennedy … Kennedy is fourth in the Big 12 in home runs, ranking ninth nationally … 13 of 17 hitters have registered a home run this season, including 10 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 146 of 409 runs (36%) on the season … The team's 75 homers tie fifth all-time in school history, fourth in the Big 12 and 21st nationally, while the Cats post the country's eight-best slugging percentage at .547 … Kennedy leads with three grand slams followed by Evasco, Vasquez and Smolinski 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 … Six of the top seven home run seasons in K-State history have been in the Hughes era.
The middle game of the series is set for 3 p.m. CT start on Saturday while the finale will begin at 12 p.m. on Sunday. The Mountaineers (28-12, 13-8 Big 12) are tied fourth in the league standings alongside TCU, while K-State (26-19, 9-12 Big 12) is tied ninth.
WVU holds an 21-17 edge in the all-time series against K-State, including an 21-15 record in Big 12 action and 11-4 lead in Morgantown. Friday's contest marks K-State's fifth consecutive game against a Top 25 opponent.
The three-game Big 12 will stream on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while radio coverage is available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM). A free live stream audio is available for K-State baseball games at kstatesports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app.
Single-game tickets are available for all Wildcat home games at Tointon Family Stadium, fans can visit kstatesports.com/tickets call 1-800-221-CATS (2287), or stop by the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
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 46
K-State (26-19, 9-12 Big 12) at #18 West Virginia (28-12, 13-8 Big 12)
Friday, May 1 // 5:30 PM CT // Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark // Morgantown, WV
Projected Starters: RHP Tazwell Butler (0-2, 6.00 ERA) vs. LHP Maxx Yehl (5-1, 2.41 ERA)
Watch: ESPN+ // Jon Morosi
Radio: KMAN // Brian Smoller
Listen: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats: kstate.statbroadcast.com
GAME 47
K-State (26-19, 9-12 Big 12) at #18 West Virginia (28-12, 13-8 Big 12)
Saturday, May 2 // 3 PM CT // Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark // Morgantown, WV
Projected Starters: LHP Lincoln Sheffield (6-1, 4.82 ERA) vs. RHP Chansen Cole (7-1, 2.91 ERA)
Watch: ESPN+ // Jon Morosi
Radio: KMAN // Brian Smoller
Listen: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats: kstate.statbroadcast.com
GAME 48
K-State (26-19, 9-12 Big 12) at #18 West Virginia (28-12, 13-8 Big 12)
Sunday, May 3 // 12 PM CT // Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark // Morgantown, WV
Projected Starters: RHP James Guyette (5-2, 5.79 ERA) vs. Dawnson Montesa (3-5, 6.00 ERA)
Watch: ESPN+ // Jon Morosi
Radio: KMAN // Brian Smoller
Listen: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats: kstate.statbroadcast.com
THE MATCHUP
K-State sets out to take on No. 18 West Virginia in a three-game Big 12 set in Morgantown, W.V., starting Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT at Waegner Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark … The middle game of the series is set for 3 p.m. CT start on Saturday while the finale will begin at 12 p.m. on Sunday. The Mountaineers (28-12, 13-8 Big 12) are tied fourth in the league standings alongside TCU, while K-State (26-19, 9-12 Big 12) is tied ninth.
FOLLOW THE CATS
The three-game Big 12 will stream on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while radio coverage is available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) ... A free live stream audio is available for K-State baseball 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
K-State continues a challenging stretch to end the regular season, as it will face its third straight nationally ranked opponent … The Wildcats fell to 26-19 overall after dropping a 7-6 decision to Nebraska Tuesday night, marking the teams fourth consecutive loss – its longest losing-streak of the season … Last weekend, Dee Kennedy became the all-time single season home run leader, belting his record-breaking 18th homer in game two before extending his record to 19 for his fourth multi-home run game … Ty Smolinski recorded his first collegiate grand slam in the series finale – an eight-hour, 17-minute game Sunday afternoon … The Wildcats homered three times against Nebraska, bringing the season total to 75 … K-State has stolen 78 bases this season, becoming one of only two programs in the nation to have 75 or more home runs and stolen bases.
THE WILDCAT ROTATION
Friday: Tazwell Butler (0-2, 6.00 ERA) will get his first start of the season Friday … Butler leads the team with seven saves and has struck out 39 over 33 innings with opponents hitting .213 against him.
Saturday: Lincoln Sheffield (6-1, 4.82 ERA) is third in the conference in victories … Sheffield is averaging 1.90 walks allowed per nine innings – the fourth-best mark in the conference.
Sunday: James Guyette (5-1, 5.79 ERA) leads the pitching staff with a season-high 81 strikeouts and 12.02 strikeouts per nine innings ranking fourth in the Big 12 in both categories, respectively … Guyette struck out a career- and team-high 12 batters in the series opener vs. OSU … He is the first Wildcat to strike out 12 since 2023.
SCOUTING #18 WEST VIRGINIA
The Mountaineers (28-12, 13-8 Big 12) coming off a series loss on the road at Cincinnati after dropping the rubber match, 7-5, Sunday … WVU sits in fourth in the Big 12, four games back of KU in the lead ... WVU, which ranks 18th by D1Baseball, 16th by NCBWA and 20th by Baseball America and USA Today, is led by second-year head coach Steve Sabins, who boasts a 72-28 career record … WVU's offense is led by sophomore Gavin Kelly, who posts a team-best .394 average, 38 RBIs, and six home runs … Junior Armani Guzman leads the league with 24 stolen bases ... Senior Paul Schoenfeld is second on the team with 82 total bases, to go along with a .369 average … The Mountaineers leads the Big 12 with a .978 fielding percentage, averaging a double play per game, which ranks seventh in the nation … Left-handed pitcher Maxx Yehl (5-1) will get Friday's start … He leads the staff with a 2.41 ERA and is second on the team with 62 strikeouts … Chansen Cole (7-1, 2.91 ERA) is scheduled to start on the hill Saturday with Dawson Montesa (3-5, 6.00 ERA) getting Sunday's nod … Last season, WVU advanced to the NCAA Baton Rouge Super Regional, marking the team's second straight super regional appearance.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Friday marks the 40th meeting between West Virginia and K-State with the Mountaineers leading the all-time series 21-17 since the series start in 2013, with the series tied 11-4 advantage in games played in Morgantown … Last season, K-State used seven-run eighth-inning rally to claim the Big 12 series vs. WVU with a 14-9 victory … K-State is 5-5 in the last 10 meetings between the two programs … The Wildcats are 9-11 against the Mountaineers under head coach Pete Hughes.
LAST 5 MEETINGS
L, 5-12 – May 12, 2024 (Morgantown)
W, 8-4 – May 22, 2024 (Arlington)
W, 8-7 – May 9, 2025 (Manhattan)
L, 3-10 – May 10, 2025 (Manhattan)
W, 14-9 – May 11, 2025 (Manhattan)
THE STRENGTH OF 2026
Thirteen of K-State's 27 opponents this season currently hold an RPI of 60 or higher, including eight foes with an RPI higher than 40 … With 11 scheduled games left of the regular season, all but one will be against Quad-1 opponents … In Big 12 play, 24 of the team's 30 conference games are against teams with an RPI of 60 or better … K-State has won 15 victories (away + neutral) on the road, which is the third-most by any Big 12 team this season) … Of K-State's 19 losses, 16 were against Quad-1 or Quad 2 opponents … K-State is 12-3 against Quad-3/4 teams.
HOME RUN KING
Junior Dee Kennedy became the program's single-season home run leader Saturday ... Kennedy, who entered the day with a record-tying 17 home runs, broke the mark 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 ... With 65 RBI's this season, which is ranks third overall nationally, Kennedy ties fourth all-time in the single-season records ... He is the first K-State player since 2010 to record 65+ RBI in a season ... He stole his 20th base of the season and is a home run away from becoming the fifth player in Big 12 history to ever produce a 20-home run/20-stolen base season.
A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS
K-State has a season +106 run differential through 45 games, averaging 9.1 runs on 10.7 hits ... Cats are 19-6 when leading after six innings 1-3 when tied after six ... K-State is 10-6 when committing no errors in a game … Conversely, K-State has won 16 games when one or more errors are committed, 16-13 overall ... The Wildcats are 15-6 when scoring first and 10-5 when scoring in the first inning … K-State has outhit opponents in 20 contests (19-1) this season and is 5-16 when being outhit, and 2-2 when hits are tied … The Cats are 18-5 when limiting opponents to five or less runs and are 5-10 in games decided by two or fewer runs … K-State is 11-11 when playing afternoon games and 15-8 when playing under the lights … The Cats have won 22 games against right-handed starters while going 4-5 against lefties.
HEAVY HITTERS
K-State has proven to be one of the nation's top offenses, ranking within the nation's top 10 in several categories … K-State is second in the country in total doubles (117), eighth in slugging percentage (.547), fifth in total runs scored (409), 10th in scoring (9.1 runs per game) … The team's .312 batting average ranks 20th among all Division I programs, while ranking 21st in home runs (75) and 21st with a .419 team on-base percentage … Seven starters are hitting over .300 (min. 20 starts).
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Kansas leads the Big 12 league standings with a 17-4 mark in conference games – its best conference start in program history … Arizona State and UCF are three games behind and tied second at 14-7 followed by West Virginia and TCU at 13-8 rounding out the top five … K-State is in a three-way tie for ninth in the standings alongside Utah and Baylor … Kansas' Tyson Owens (player and newcomer), Arizona's Luc Fladda (co-pitcher) and UCF's Camden Wicker (co-pitcher) were named the Big 12 Baseball Players of the Week for the 11th week of the 2026 season.
2026 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2026 Big 12 Baseball Tournament presented by Allstate will be played at Surprise Stadium, the spring training home of the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers, located in Surprise, Arizona ... The top 12 teams in the regular season standings will compete in the tournament.
POWER SUPPLY
K-State has 75 home runs this season led by a school-record 19 from Kennedy … Kennedy is fourth in the Big 12 in home runs, ranking ninth nationally … 13 of 17 hitters have registered a home run this season, including 10 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 146 of 409 runs (36%) on the season … The team's 75 homers tie fifth all-time in school history, fourth in the Big 12 and 21st nationally, while the Cats post the country's eight-best slugging percentage at .547 … Kennedy leads with three grand slams followed by Evasco, Vasquez and Smolinski 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 … Six of the top seven home run seasons in K-State history have been in the Hughes era.
Players Mentioned
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