Wildcats Mash Past Cougars Tuesday, 16-3

Tuesday, March 31

Provo, Utah

7 p.m.

Kansas State University

19-10

BYU

13-14

Kansas State

BYU

Mar 31, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

PROVO, Utah – Six homers, including multi-home run performances by Dee Kennedy and AJ Evasco, powered K-State to a 16-3 eight-inning victory over BYU Tuesday at Miller Park.

K-State (19-10, 4-5 Big 12) scored 10 runs over the first five innings, that included three home runs in the opening frame. The Wildcats totaled 11 extra base hits, as eight players contributed a hit, including six with multiple.

"Great effort by our guys today," said head coach Pete Hughes. "Bouncing back was important. Our preparation didn't change, and our energy was great again. Happy for our guys for getting the result. Robert Fortenberry was really good and was extremely efficient versus a dangerous offense. Our offense once again had a relentless performance. Again, proud of our guys and the way they show up every day."

Kennedy and Evasco each recorded two home runs in the non-conference matchup, both totaling a game-leading five RBI. Additionally, Grant Gallagher and Carlos Vasquez each homered. With the win, the Wildcats recorded their seventh run-rule victory of the season, while extending their streak to three consecutive wins over BYU (13-14, 4-5 Big 12) in the all-time series.

Fortenberry logged three innings of one-run ball in his first start at K-State. The left-hander scattered just one hit against the 11 batters he faced, issuing one walk with three strikeouts before handing the ball over to Austin Haley, who improved to 2-0.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Grant Gallagher led off the midweek contest with his fourth homer of the season, marking the program's first lead-off home run since last year. Shintaro Inoue followed with a bunt single, bringing Kennedy to the plate, where junior shortstop followed with two-run homer – his 13^th of the season. Vasquez then belted a solo shot to left-center to stretch the lead to 4-0.

Left fielder Ezra McNaughton put the Cougars on the board in the bottom of the inning with a solo shot to right.

Back-to-back RBI doubles from Inoue and Kennedy extended the Wildcats' lead to 6-1. Evasco added to the home run total in the third inning with his third blast of the season – a 430-foot, two-run shot to right-center.

Leading 11-3 headed into the eighth inning, K-State pushed its advantage into double figures with a two-run jack by Kennedy before Evasco delivered a three-run blast for the final blow.

Aaron Arnold slammed the door on the Cougars' offense over the final two frames. The senior right-hander allowed just two hits and struck out three of the seven batters he faced.

INSIDE THE BOX

K-State scored 16 runs on 17 hits, committed no errors and stranded just five runners on base, whole holding BYU to three runs on eight hits.
BYU committed one error and stranded six runners on base.
Eight players contributed a hit for K-State, including six with multiple.
Inoue, Kennedy and Karl each produced three-hit games, while Kennedy and Evasco each produced a game-leading five RBI.
Easton Jones had three hits to lead BYU followed by two from McNaughton.
Four Wildcats homered – Gallagher, Kennedy, Vasquez and Evasco – while Jones and McNaughton each recorded a home run for BYU.
Fortenberry went three innings in his first start at K-State, allowing one earned run on one hit with one walk and three strikeouts.
Haley (2-0) received the victory in relief of Fortenberry, scattering two earned runs on four hits over 2 2/3 innings.
Arnold logged two shutout innings and allowed two hits with three strikeouts.

TEAM NOTES

K-State holds a 10-6 edge over BYU in the all-time series, that includes a three-game winning streak in Provo.
The Wildcats have reached the 10-run mark 14 times this season, going 11-3, while it is 17^th game with 10+ hits.
Tuesday's game marked the seventh consecutive game reaching the 10-hit mark.
K-State has had a player reach 13 home runs in a single-season in five of the last six seasons – 2021 (Cameron Thompson [14], Dylan Phillips [16]), 2022 (Dylan Phillips [13]), 2023 (Roberto Peno [15]), 2025 (Keegan O'Connor [17]), 2026 (Dee Kennedy [13]).
Tuesday's contest marks the 14^th multi-home run game of the season, and fifth game with four or more.
It marked the seventh run-rule victory of the season and third against a Big 12 opponent. It is 18^th run-rule victory in the Hughes era.

PLAYER NOTES

Gallagher became the first player to lead off a game with a home run since Dee Kennedy vs. Texas Tech on March 29, 2025.
With his third multi-home run game of the year and fifth of his collegiate career, Kennedy becomes the 10^th player in school history to generate a 14-home run season.
Kennedy now moves into a four-way tie for seventh on the single-season home run leaderboard.
Arnold recorded his third outing logging two scoreless innings.

ON DECK
K-State will begin the April schedule of its 2026 campaign Friday night, when the Wildcats host TCU (17-10, 5-4 Big 12) in a three-game conference series at Tointon Family Stadium. The entire Big 12 series can be seen on EPSN+ and the ESPN app.

– k-statesports.com –

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