Thursday, May 14
Orlando, Fla.
5 p.m.
Kansas State University
27-25, 10-18
6
at
10
UCF
30-19, 18-10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas State | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 |
| UCF | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | X | 10 | 15 | 2 |
Five-Run Seventh Inning Hurts K-State in Opener
May 14, 2026 | Baseball
ORLANDO, Fla. – UCF used a five-run seventh inning to pick up a 10-6 victory over K-State Friday night at John Euliano Park.
Tied 4-4, Stephen Chucka delivered an off the bench three-run double to drive in go-ahead run and lift UCF (30-19, 18-10 Big 12) to a series-opening win. With the loss, K-State drops to 27-25 overall with a 10-18 mark in Big 12 play.
"They more big hits than we did," head coach Pete Hughes said. "Our guys battled to the end but it was the big inning that defined the game. We were unable to damage control that situation and that's usually the difference in Big 12 games."
THE RUNDOWN
After giving up a one-out double in the first, K-State starter Tazwell Butler retired five consecutive batters, aided by a run-saving diving catch by center fielder Cadyn Karl.
AJ Evasco put the Wildcats on the board in the third, launching a 394-foot solo home run to centerfield – the team's 80th home run of the season.
The Knights answered with a solo homer from Jordan Lodise, followed by a triple from Austin Jacobs, but Butler stranded the runner and set down UCF in order.
Tied 1-1 in the fourth, Carlos Vasquez led off with a single to center before Grant Gallagher followed with a one-out base hit through the left side, forcing a pitching change by UCF. Max Murray struck out the first batter he faced, but hit Karl in the next at-bat to load the bases before issuing a walk that gave K-State a 2-1 lead.
UCF rallied in the bottom of the fifth, taking advantage of a misplayed popup that led to two runs.
Evasco continued to spark the Wildcats offense with a two-out double in the sixth before advancing to third on a passed ball. Karl followed with an RBI single up the middle to tie the game, leading UCF to make its second call to the pen. Nick English welcomed Kevin Schoneboom to the game with a single that scored Evasco and pushed K-State ahead, 4-3.
UCF erupted for seven unanswered runs over the seventh and eighth innings, highlighted by Chucka's pinch-hit, bases-clearing double that broke the tie.
Trailing 10-4, Bear Madliak launched a 3-2 pitch 405 feet over the left field wall for a towering two-run homer, but the Knights held off the late rally to secure the win.
INSIDE THE BOX
Game two between the Wildcats and Knights is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT at John Euliano Park on Friday and 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 –
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Baseball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
Tied 4-4, Stephen Chucka delivered an off the bench three-run double to drive in go-ahead run and lift UCF (30-19, 18-10 Big 12) to a series-opening win. With the loss, K-State drops to 27-25 overall with a 10-18 mark in Big 12 play.
"They more big hits than we did," head coach Pete Hughes said. "Our guys battled to the end but it was the big inning that defined the game. We were unable to damage control that situation and that's usually the difference in Big 12 games."
THE RUNDOWN
After giving up a one-out double in the first, K-State starter Tazwell Butler retired five consecutive batters, aided by a run-saving diving catch by center fielder Cadyn Karl.
AJ Evasco put the Wildcats on the board in the third, launching a 394-foot solo home run to centerfield – the team's 80th home run of the season.
The Knights answered with a solo homer from Jordan Lodise, followed by a triple from Austin Jacobs, but Butler stranded the runner and set down UCF in order.
Tied 1-1 in the fourth, Carlos Vasquez led off with a single to center before Grant Gallagher followed with a one-out base hit through the left side, forcing a pitching change by UCF. Max Murray struck out the first batter he faced, but hit Karl in the next at-bat to load the bases before issuing a walk that gave K-State a 2-1 lead.
UCF rallied in the bottom of the fifth, taking advantage of a misplayed popup that led to two runs.
Evasco continued to spark the Wildcats offense with a two-out double in the sixth before advancing to third on a passed ball. Karl followed with an RBI single up the middle to tie the game, leading UCF to make its second call to the pen. Nick English welcomed Kevin Schoneboom to the game with a single that scored Evasco and pushed K-State ahead, 4-3.
UCF erupted for seven unanswered runs over the seventh and eighth innings, highlighted by Chucka's pinch-hit, bases-clearing double that broke the tie.
Trailing 10-4, Bear Madliak launched a 3-2 pitch 405 feet over the left field wall for a towering two-run homer, but the Knights held off the late rally to secure the win.
INSIDE THE BOX
- UCF scored 10 runs on 15 hits with two errors committed and seven runners left on base.
- K-State plated six runs on eight hits, committed two errors and stranded eight men on base.
- Schoneboom (3-2) was awarded the victory in relief, allowing one hit over 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
- Seven players contributed a hit for K-State led by Evasco, who went 2-for-4.
- English and Madliak each drove in two RBI.
- UCF's John Smith III and Landon Moran each recorded three-hit efforts, while Chucka led all players with three RBI.
- Evasco and Madliak each homered.
- Miles Smith was tagged for the loss, surrendering six runs (five earned) on five hits over his 1 2/3 innings in relief. He scattered five hits with one walk and one strikeout.
- Butler held the Knights to three runs on seven hits over his five-inning start.
- With the win, UCF took a 4-3 lead in the all-time series, that includes a 3-1 record in games played in Orlando.
- As a team, the Wildcats have homered in 38 of 52 games this season, totaling 80 on the season.
- The team's 81 home runs is good for fourth overall in K-State history.
- After sitting out 19 games due to injury, Vasquez returned to the diamond for the first time since April 11 vs. Oklahoma State.
- Kennedy recorded his 21st stolen base of the season
- With his home run in the third, Evasco became the eighth player this season to register the longball six or more times.
Game two between the Wildcats and Knights is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT at John Euliano Park on Friday and 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 –
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Baseball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Schoneboom, Kevin (3-2)
L: Smith, Miles (2-5)
Batting:
2B: Evasco, AJ 1
HR: Madliak, Bear 1 ; Evasco, AJ 1
RBI: English, Nick 2 ; Madliak, Bear 2 ; Evasco, AJ 1 ; Karl, Cadyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kennedy, Dee 1 ; Madliak, Bear 1 ; Vasquez, Carlos 1 ; Evasco, AJ 2 ; Karl, Cadyn 1
SB: Kennedy, Dee 1 ; Karl, Cadyn 1
CS: Inoue, Shintaro 1
HBP: Kennedy, Dee 1 ; Karl, Cadyn 1
PO: Inoue, Shintaro 1
Batting:
2B: Smith III, John 1 ; Chucka, Stephen 1
3B: Jacobs, Austin 1
HR: Williamson, Andrew 1 ; Lodise, Jordan 1
RBI: Smith III, John 1 ; Williamson, Andrew 2 ; Skinner, Zak 1 ; Moran, Landon 1 ; Chucka, Stephen 3 ; Lodise, Jordan 2
SF: Lodise, Jordan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ross, DeAmez 1 ; Smith III, John 2 ; Williamson, Andrew 1 ; Skinner, Zak 1 ; Crespo, Javier 1 ; Moran, Landon 1 ; Chucka, Stephen 1 ; Lodise, Jordan 1 ; Jacobs, Austin 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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