Smolinski Homers Twice, Wildcats Set Up Rubber Match

Friday, May 15

Orlando, Fla.

5 p.m.

Kansas State University

28-25, 11-18

UCF

30-20, 18-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Kansas State	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	0	0	5	7	0
UCF	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	4	10	0

May 15, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. – Behind two home runs from Ty Smolinski and six consecutive shutout innings from Lincoln Sheffield, K-State outlasted UCF, 5-4, Friday night at John Euliano Park to force a rubber match in the series finale.

After five scoreless innings, Smolinski put K-State (28-25, 11-18 Big 12) on the board with a solo home run before the Wildcats erupted for four runs in the seventh, highlighted by AJ Evasco's two-run blast and Smolinski's second homer of the night.

"Great bounce-back win tonight. The boys love to play and love to compete.," said head coach Pete Hughes, who earned his 880^th victory as a head coach, the most among active Big 12 coaches and the 12^th-most among active Power 4 coaches. "Lincoln Sheffield set the tone for the entire night. He gave us another bulldog outing, and Ty Smolinski took another step in his growth and fired up our offense."

In his fifth quality start of the season, Sheffield (7-3) turned in another dominant outing, holding the Knights (30-20, 18-11 Big 12) to three runs over six shutout frames to earn his seventh win. The senior left-hander finished the nightcap scattering seven hits over his 6 1/3 innings, while striking out six and walking two. His seven victories tie the K-State single-season record for wins.

After relieving Sheffield in the seventh and allowing three hits, Aaron Arnold bounced back with a scoreless eighth before turning the ball over to Cohen Feser, who closed out the ninth for his third save of the season.

With the win, the Wildcats secured a berth to the 2026 Big 12 Championships in Surprise, Arizona, starting Tuesday, May 26. The complete bracket and seedings will be announced at the conclusion of the final regular season games on Saturday, May 16. It marks the program's seventh consecutive appearance in the conference tournament under Hughes (2020 tournament was cut due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

THE RUNDOWN
UCF threatened early in the second inning when Landon Moran and Cayden Gaskin delivered back-to-back hits before a fielder's choice moved a runner to third. Sheffield responded by striking out the next batter on three pitches to keep the game scoreless.

Sheffield retired 10 consecutive batters before surrendering the third hit of the night, but immediately forced a grounder to first to get out of the inning and prevent scoring.

The Knights' starter Camden Wicker carried a no-hit bid into the sixth inning, setting down 15 straight before Smolinski ended the drought with his eighth homer of the season – a 107-mph blast over the right center wall.

UCF put two runners on with a pair of two-out singles in the bottom of the inning, but Sheffield stranded both runners with his sixth strikeout.

In the seventh, Dee Kennedy was hit by a pitch to bring Evasco to the plate. The sophomore barreled a two-run blast to right field – his second home run of the series and seventh of the season to extend the Wildcats' lead, 3-0.

Calros Vasquez followed in the next at bat with a single to left field to force a mound visit from the Knights. Smolinski responded and went deep for the second time, crushing a 2-1 pitch 395-feet to the UCF bullpen for his second multi-home run game of the year.

After six shutout frames, UCF broke through with an RBI single from Austin Jacobs. Following a run-saving catch by shortstop Dee Kennedy, a Brooks Wallace Award semifinalist, K-State turned to the bullpen.

Arnold entered the game and inherited runners on first and second and quickly picked up the second out on a fielder's choice. UCF answered with three consecutive two-out hits, headlined by a two-run double from Andrew Williamson, pulling the game within one, 5-4.

Arnold responded with a scoreless eighth inning to preserve the lead before Feser retired the side in order to secure the win.

INSIDE THE BOX

K-State scored five runs on seven hits, committed no errors and left three runners on base while UCF scored four runs on 10 hits, had no errors and stranded eight men on base.
Smolinski homered twice while Evasco also hit one out.
Sheffield (7-3) was awarded the victory, holding UCF to three runs over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out six and issued two walks, while allowing seven hits in the start.
Aaron Arnold allowed three hits and one run over his 1 2/3 innings in relief of Sheffield, while Feser earned his third save of the year.
Six different players contributed a hit for K-State, led by two from Smolinski.
UCF had six players with a hit and four with two.
Wicker (5-3) suffered the loss after allowing a season-high five runs (earned) on five hits over 6 1/3 innings.

TEAM NOTES

With the win, K-State tied the all-time series, 4-4, including a 2-3 record in games played in Orlando.
K-State has recorded two or more home runs in 23 of 53 games this season, going 15-8 in the stretch.
K-State has homered in four straight games, tallying five in the series with UCF.

PLAYER NOTES

Evasco, who set the freshman single-season home run record last season with 11, has homered in two straight games
With his Smolinski recorded his second multi-home run performance of the season.
Sheffield's seven wins tie the record for most wins by a Wildcat senior in a single season.

ON DECK
The final game of the 2026 regular season schedule is slated for 12 p.m. CT, featuring a pitching matchup between K-State's Billy Eich and UCF's Roman Kimball. The rubber match can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Radio coverage is available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM), while a free a free live stream audio is available for K-State baseball games at kstatesports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app.

– k-statesports.com –

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