No. 16 Jayhawks Sweep Sunflower Showdown

Sunday, April 26

Manhattan, Kan.

11 a.m.

Kansas State University

26-18, 9-12

Kansas

33-11, 17-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Kansas	0	4	1	1	2	0	0	0	1	9	12	0
Kansas State	0	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	7	10	0

Apr 26, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

MANHATTAN, Kan. – In a game that was delayed more than five hours by weather, No. 16 Kansas defeated K-State, 9-7, to complete a Dillons Sunflower Showdown sweep at Tointon Family Stadium Sunday.

With the victory, KU improved to 33-11 and 17-4 in Big 12 play, continuing its best conference start in school history. K-State fell to 26-18 and 9-12 in league games.

"We were beat in every phase of the game," head coach Pete Hughes said following the series finale. "They were very good with runners in scoring position. We struggled in this area. We need to be better in every phase."

The Wildcats erased a four-run deficit in the second inning behind Ty Smolinski's first collegiate grand slam, and took a 6-5 lead with an RBI single from Micah Kendrick. KU tied the game before pulling ahead with two runs in the fifth, highlighted by Tyson Owen's go-ahead solo home run, before entering the weather delay. Both team's were held to one run over the final four frames, as KU held on to secure its sixth consecutive Big 12 series victory.

"There is a lot of baseball left to be played, but we are very grateful to our fan base for showing up this weekend and always." Hughes added. "We will play better."

THE RUNDOWN
KU plated four runs in the second inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from Dylan Schlotterback, but was immediately responded with Smolinski's grand slam.

Bear Madliak and Kendrick strung together a pair of singles to lead off the bottom of the inning before Grant Gallagher walked to load the bases and force a mound visit. With no outs, Smolinski launched a 373-foot grand slam over the left-field wall to tie the game at 4-4.

A sacrifice fly in the third pulled KU ahead, until the Wildcats answered two runs led by Dee Kennedy's infield single. The junior stole his 20^th base of the season to move into scoring position, before Madliak and Kendrick each delivered RBI singles to make it a 6-5 ballgame.

The Jayhawks rallied with three runs across the fourth and fifth innings to take back the lead, 8-6.

Following a five-hour, seven-minute weather delay, the two squads were held scoreless through the sixth and eighth innings. Senior reliever Tazwell Butler entered the game after the delay and retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced before surrendering a solo home run in the ninth. The right-hander bounced back by setting down three of the final four hitters, that included two strikeouts.

K-State pushed a run across the plate in the final inning, as Shintaro Inoue doubled into left center before coming around the bases on a two-out single from Dee Kennedy – his 65^th RBI of the year. The Jayhawks held on as Boede Rahe struck out the final batter to finish off his seventh save of the season and secure the series sweep.

INSIDE THE BOX

KU scored nine runs on 12 hits, with no errors committed and stranding seven on base, while K-State scored seven runs on 10 hits, with no errors and stranded six on base.
All five players who recorded a hit for K-State had two, while Smolinski produced a game-high four RBI with his grand slam.
Cohen Feser (2-2) suffered the loss in relief, allowing four runs (earned) in five hits over 2 2/3 innings.
Four pitchers made an appearance on the mound for K-State.
Butler tossed a game-high four innings and allowed one run, three hits with a game-high six strikeouts.
Kannon Carr (3-1) was awarded the win in relief, logging 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
Boede Rahe earned his seventh save of the year.
Three players homered for KU – LeBlanc, Owens, Schlotterback.
K-State was 4-for-7 with runners in scoring position while KU was 3-for-7.

TEAM NOTES

K-State has recorded a home run 10 of its last 11 games, totaling 17 in the stretch.
The Wildcats' 72 home runs in 2026 ranks sixth all-time in school history.
K-State is one of only two schools in the nation to have 70+ home runs (72) and 70+ stolen bases (77).
With its seventh consecutive win over K-State, Kansas takes a 205-106-1 lead in the all-time series, that includes a 92-110-1 record in games played in Manhattan.
Sunday's final game duration was eight hours, 17 minutes.

PLAYER NOTES

Smolinski belted his first collegiate grand slam in the second. He is the fourth player this season to hit a grand slam in 2026.
Kennedy registered his 20^th stolen base of the season, becoming just the second player in the nation to have 20 stolen bases and 19 or more home runs.
With 65 RBI's this season, Kennedy ties fourth all-time in the single-season records. He is the first player since Carter Jurica (2010) to record 65+ RBI in a season.

ON DECK
K-State will head to Lincoln to take on No. 20 Nebraska (33-11, 17-4 Big Ten) Tuesday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park. Tuesday's game can be seen on the Big Ten Network.

– k-statesports.com –

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