K-State Powers Past Iowa on Opening Day, 15-6

Friday, February 13

Goodyear, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Kansas State University

1-0

Iowa

0-1

Iowa

Kansas State

Feb 13, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Behind 14 hits, a career-high eight strikeouts from James Guyette, and a grand slam by Dee Kennedy, K-State secured a dominant season-opening 15-6 win over Iowa at Goodyear Ballpark on Friday in Game One of the MLB Desert Invitational.

After Guyette recorded his fifth strikeout, K-State carried a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the fourth before sending 10 batters to the plate and breaking the game open with six runs. The Wildcats' offensive outburst marked their highest run total on Opening Day since 2009 with 16 runs.

"We got a lot of work to do, but happy with our effort and our intensity," said eighth-year head coach Pete Hughes. "I thought the difference in the game was how we handled two-outs offensively, we were very productive, and how we handled two-outs defensively. Great effort by Dee Kennedy to get us going and an overall good performance. We're ready for UConn."

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wildcats (1-0) erupted 10 runs over the first four frames, powered by nine hits and multi-hit performances from Kennedy, AJ Evasco and Kyan Lodice to quickly take control on Opening Day.

Ty Smolinski, who hit a sacrifice fly in the second, recorded the first hit of the season by lining a 1-2 pitch to right field, putting runners on first and second after leadoff Robby Bolin worked a six-pitch walk. With two outs, Evasco delivered his first hit of the year into left field to drive in the first runs of the 2026 season, handing the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.

Iowa (0-1) broke through and tagged a run to the board in the third with an RBI-double by right fielder Kellen Strohmeyer. Guyette hit the next batter he faced but immediately responded with a three-pitch strikeout to escape a bases loaded jam.

K-State sent 10 batters to the plate in the fourth and broke the game open with a six-run inning, highlighted by Kennedy's grand slam. The Wildcats loaded the bases to force Iowa to go to the pen, bringing senior pitcher Justin Hacket into the game. Kennedy greeted the right-hander by launching the first pitch he saw – a 106-mph shot off the bat to left center – extending the lead to 9-2.

Iowa scored three runs over the fifth and sixth innings to trim the deficit, led by a two-run homer from shortstop Kooper Shulte.

A two-run homer by redshirt freshman Chandler Murray, who walked in his first collegiate at bat the previous inning, stretched the Cats' lead to nine. Leading 15-6, newcomer Adan Longoria dominated out of the bullpen, striking out the side in order to secure the win.

INSIDE THE BOX

K-State scored 15 runs on 14 hits, committed no errors and left 11 on base while Iowa plated six runs on 11 hits with one error and 10 left on base.
Three players had multi-hit games for K-State, as Evasco led all players at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two RBI. Lodice was 3-for-4 followed by Kennedy with two hits.
Kennedy drove in a game-high five RBI, matching a career-best. Lodice, Murray and Evasco each added a pair of runs.
Kennedy hit his first grand slam with K-State, while Murray hit his first collegiate home run.
Robby Bolin drew three of the Cats' 11 walks and scored a game-high four runs.
The pitching staff combined for 13 strikeouts.
Guyette was awarded the victory, allowing four runs (earned) on eight hits with a career-high eight strikeouts and one walk over his five-inning start.
Wisenbaker surrendered two runs (earned) in his two innings in relief of Guyette.
Tazwell Butler and Longoria combined for two no-hit, scoreless innings in relief.
Guyette and Longoria each logged an inning with three strikeouts.
Opening Day starters: SP – James Guyette, C – Bear Madliak, 1B – Ty Smolinski, 2B – Shintaro Inoue, SS – Dee Kennedy, 3B – Grant Gallagher, LF – Carlos Vasquez, CF – Robby Bolin, RF – AJ Evasco.

TEAM NOTES

The Wildcats lead the all-time series 18-10 against the Hawkeyes, which includes a 1-1 record in the Hughes era.
K-State started its season on the road for the 24^th consecutive year.
Since 2000, K-State is 16-11 in Opening Day contests, including a 3-5 record in the Hughes era.
The win marks the program's first Opening Day win since 2023.
Friday marked the first game K-State scored 10+ runs on Opening Day since February 19, 2010, vs. Delaware (K-State 11, Delaware 5).
The game's 21 total runs scored marked the highest run total on Opening Day since February 12, 2002 (29 – K-State 21, Doane 8).
K-State's 15 runs were the most scored on Opening Day since February 20, 2009, at Houston (K-State 16, Houston 2).
With the win, K-State moves to 3-6 all-time when playing on February 13.
Friday's game marks just the sixth time K-State has won 15-6 in program history.
The win marked Hughes' 201^st win at K-State – 853^rd in his 29-year career as a head coach.
Six transfers made their K-State debuts Friday: Bolin, Micah Kendrick, Gallagher, Vasquez, Shea McGahan, and Longoria.
K-State last defeated Iowa on Opening Day on February 13, 2015, at the Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte, Florida.
The Cats have played in the MLB Desert Invitational twice – 2024, 2026.

PLAYER NOTES

Kennedy recorded his second multi-steal game and first of the season with two on Opening Day.
Evasco registered his 15^th career multi-RBI and multi-hit game – was third on the team in multi-RBI games in 2025. Evasco recorded his first career four-hit game. He had five three-hit games in 2025.
Guyette struck out a career-high eight surpassing his previous mark of five at BYU (May 3, 2025). The righty earned his second collegiate start and first since May 18, 2024 vs. BYU.
Cole Wisenbaker made his first appearance since June 7, 2024 at #18 Virginia at the NCAA Charlottesville Super Regional.
Murray walked on seven pitches in his first collegiate at bat before completing his debut with a two-run homer in the next at bat.
Bolin is the first player to draw three walks in a single-game since Bear Madliak vs. #12 West Virginia on May 10, 2025.

UP NEXT
The Wildcats will face UConn on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT at Scottsdale Stadium. The game can be seen on MLB.com, while radio coverage is available on KMAN.

– k-statesports.com –

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