K-State Outduels Arizona in 2-1 Victory

Friday, April 17

Tucson, Ariz.

8 p.m.

Kansas State University

24-14, 8-8

Arizona

14-23, 5-11

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

Apr 18, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

TUCSON, Ariz. – K-State pitchers James Guyette, Adam Arther and Miles Smith combined for eight scoreless innings Friday night, as the Wildcats outdueled Arizona in a 2-1 victory at Hi Corbett Field.

"I thought that was a great Friday night win all the way around. Our lineup, our bullpen – we made big plays all night, especially in pressure situations. The pitching staff was phenomenal and came up with big pitches when we needed them. They stranded a leadoff triple with no runs in the eighth inning, and that was the moment that won the game for us."

K-State (24-14, 8-8 Big 12) trailed 1-0 entering the eighth inning before Grant Gallagher, who led off the frame with a single, scored on a passed ball to tie the game. The Wildcats took the lead in the ninth, as AJ Evasco doubled and later scored on Cadyn Karl's sacrifice fly for the go-ahead run. Reliever Miles Smith then slammed the door, retiring the side in order to secure the program's first win over Arizona (14-23, 5-11 Big 12) in school history.

"AJ Evasco had a big night for us and got the big hit. We got a late run because of his leadoff double. Overall, it was a great team win on a Friday night, led by our pitching staff, which delivered from the first inning through the ninth."

Guyette tossed five scoreless innings before surrendering a run in the sixth. He struck out a game-high eight and allowed five hits before handing the ball over to Arther, who struck out three of five batters he faced.

THE RUNDOWN
After walking his first two batters, Guyette settled in and retired five of the next six he faced, including three strikeouts.

Arizona threatened to jump on the board in the fourth with a pair of runners in scoring position, but Guyette worked out of the jam, recording his fifth strikeout of the game. The junior right-hander carried a three-hitter into the sixth inning, after setting down Arizona in order to keep the game scoreless.

The Wildcats best chance of early scoring came in the fifth, as Micah Kendrick walked and advanced to third on a failed pick off attempt by starter Owen Kramkowski. Ty Smolinski was hit by a pitch and stole second to position both runners in scoring position, but Kramkowski caught the batter looking for his fifth punchout of the night.

After five scoreless frames, Arizona broke through with a 1-0 lead after recording back-to-back hits, including Bear Sylvester's RBI-triple to right center.

The Wildcats answered in the eighth, as Gallagher and Shintaro Inoue strung together a pair of hits to lead off the inning. With runners on first and third, a passed ball rolled to the backstop, allowing Gallagher to score the tying run.

Arizona turned to the bullpen, bringing in Garrett Hicks with a runner on second. The reliever recorded three quick outs to keep the game tied at 1-1.

Andrew Cain tripled to right field to lead off the bottom of the eighth, leading K-State to make its second call to the bullpen. Miles Smith entered the game with one out, inheriting the runner on third from Adam Arther, who struck out three of the six batters he faced in relief of Guyette.

Cain attempted to steal home on a wild pitch, but catcher Bear Madliak quickly recovered the ball and flipped to Smith for the out at home.

Tied 1-1 in the top of the ninth, Evasco doubled on the third pitch he saw from Hicks, driving it to the opposite field, and advanced to third on a flyout by Kendrick. The Wildcats took the lead in the next at-bat, as Karl lifted a sacrifice fly to right field for the deciding run.

INSIDE THE BOX

K-State scored two runs on seven hits with no errors and leaving six runners on base, while Arizona was held to one run on six hits, committed one error and stranded eight.
Guyette fired six complete innings, allowing one earned run on five hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.
Kramkowski threw 7 1/3 innings Friday, surrendering one unearned run and allowing six hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
Kennedy recorded the first extra-base hit with a double in the sixth inning.
Adam Arther struck out three of six batters he faced in his 1 1/3 innings in relief of Guyette.
Smith (2-2) was awarded the victory in relief, throwing 1 2/3 hitless innings with one strikeout.
Six different players contributed a hit for K-State, led by Evasco with two.
Five players had a hit for Arizona, including two from Cain.
Hicks (3-1) suffered the loss in relief, surrendering the go-ahead run.
Karl drove in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

TEAM NOTES

Friday's contest marks the third-ever meeting between Kansas State and Arizona, while it marks the first game played in Big 12 play and in Tucson.
K-State is 1-2 all-time against Arizona.
The Wildcats improve to 3-4 in one-run games.

PLAYER NOTES

In 10 starts this season, Guyette has struck out eight or more in six, totaling 33 (8.3 per game) in his last four outings.
Karl drove in his first game-winning RBI of the season.
Inoue has reached base in 24 consecutive games, dating back to March 7 vs. SIUE.
In his last six outings, Arther has allowed just three hits with 11 strikeouts over six innings.

ON DECK
Game two between Arizona and K-State is scheduled for an 8 p.m. CT first pitch and can be seen 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 at kstatesports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app.

– k-statesports.com –

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