Following a three-game series win over TCU and a road victory against Arizona State, the University of Arizona baseball team (15-24, 6-12 Big 12) aimed to maintain their momentum. They welcomed Kansas State University (25-15, 9-9 Big 12) to Hi Corbett Field for a three-game weekend series.
Key Stats of the Series
The first two games turned into a showdown between the bullpens. Arizona’s Owen Kramkowski pitched seven innings, striking out six while surrendering six hits and one run. Smith Bailey delivered six innings of one-hit ball, fanning 15 batters on 99 pitches.
Game One
Arizona handed the ball to Kramkowski for the opener, while Kansas State countered with junior right-hander James Guyette. Guyette struggled early, walking Arizona’s Nate Novitske and Caleb Danzeisen to start the game. Despite having two on with no outs, Guyette rebounded to retire the next three hitters, two via strikeout, finishing with eight punchouts on the day.
In the bottom of the sixth, Arizona broke through. On an 0-1 pitch from Guyette, Beau Sylvester lined a ball into the right-center gap that rolled to the wall. Andrew Cain, who was on first, raced around to score standing up, while Sylvester slid into third with an RBI triple to put Arizona up 1-0.
In the top of the eighth, Kansas State’s first two batters reached base. Grant Gallagher beat out an infield single, and Shintaro Inoue followed with a single through the right side. Gallagher advanced to third. With runners on the corners and no outs, Kramkowski threw a fastball that got past Sylvester, allowing Gallagher to score easily and tie the game at 1-1. Garrett Hicks relieved Kramkowski and turned in a clean outing through the seventh and eighth innings.
The game remained tied 1-1 entering the ninth. Leadoff hitter AJ Evasco faced Hicks and lined a 2-0 fastball into the left-center gap for a leadoff double. Micah Kendrick then flied to center; Evasco tagged and moved to third on the catch. Next, Kadyn Karl hit the first pitch from Hicks deep to center. McEntire made the catch, but Evasco tagged again and scored on an offline throw, giving Kansas State a 2-1 lead.
Arizona threatened to tie or win in the bottom of the ninth, but Kansas State reliever Miles Smith struck out the leadoff man and retired the side, securing a gritty Game 1 victory for the visitors.
Game Two
Saturday’s matchup saw both Wildcats teams battle. Kansas State aimed to clinch the series, while Arizona sought to force a rubber match.
Both teams threatened early but couldn’t score. Bailey struck out three in the first and racked up six consecutive punchouts, totaling nine through three innings. He finished with a career-high 15 strikeouts over six innings, allowing just one hit and one hit batter. Meanwhile, Kansas State starter Sheffield gave up one hit and struck out three in three innings, ending his day with 10 strikeouts, four hits allowed, and one run.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth. Carson McEntire turned on a 2-1 slider from Sheffield and launched it over the left-field wall for a solo home run, giving Arizona a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Patrick Morris relieved Bailey to protect the one-run lead. Kansas State’s Bear Madliak led off with a single. After a fielder’s choice, Morris threw a wild pitch that advanced Ty Smolinski to second, then walked Karl. Pinch-hitter Nick English (.393 average) stepped in and on a 1-0 pitch, blasted a towering three-run homer down the left-field line, putting Kansas State ahead 3-1.
Arizona’s bullpen struggles worsened in the eighth. The Wildcats allowed eight hits and 11 runs in the inning, walking three and striking out only three. The outburst included a grand slam by Dee Kennedy. The game ended in eight innings due to the run-rule, with Kansas State winning 11-1.
Game Three
Having scored just two runs over the first two games, Arizona knew their bats needed to awaken to salvage the series finale.
The Wildcats responded, highlighted by a solo home run from TJ Adams and a key two-run single from Cash Brennan. Arizona consistently pressured Kansas State’s pitching, collecting multiple extra-base hits to build their lead.
On the mound, Arizona found late stability. Reliever Colin McKinney delivered four scoreless innings, shutting down the Kansas State offense, while Hicks secured the save.
Despite the Game 3 victory, Arizona dropped the series 2–1 to Kansas State.
Looking Ahead
Arizona remains at Hi Corbett Field to host BYU in a three-game series from April 23–25. All games will be available to stream on ESPN+.
