Kansas State rallied from an early deficit with seven straight runs, including a record-breaking home run by Dee Kennedy, to secure an 8-3 win over Grand Canyon on Tuesday afternoon at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark.
The Lopes (14-26, 6-9 Mountain West) jumped ahead 3-1 in the first inning thanks to a two-run homer. The Wildcats (26-15, 9-9 Big 12) gradually fought back, and Kennedy tied the game with his 17th home run of the season—setting a new junior single-season record at K-State—sparking a five-run sixth inning. Pitcher Cohen Feser delivered four scoreless relief innings to earn his second win, while Adam Arther and Miles Smith helped combine for seven shutout frames, securing the team’s 15th road victory.
Head coach Pete Hughes praised his team’s resilience: “I’m proud of how our guys finished a tough road trip this late in the season. Winning three of four and maintaining energy in hot, uncomfortable conditions says a lot. We brought great energy today in our fourth game, which was fantastic.”
Hughes added, “Cohen Feser gave our offense time to settle in and build a lead. We showed excellent plate discipline and capitalized on walks to generate runs. Cadyn Karl had a great game with eight putouts in center field and came a triple short of the cycle. Overall, proud of the effort in game four of the road trip.”
Kennedy’s 17th homer not only broke Heath Schesser’s 1997 junior record but also tied the program’s all‑time single‑season mark, matching Keegan O’Connor’s record set last year. “We’re thrilled for Dee,” Hughes said. “He came to K‑State to help maintain our success and be among the best to wear purple, and he’s doing exactly that—with plenty of baseball still ahead.”
Game Summary
GCU struck first in the opening frame on Cannon Perry’s two‑run blast to center. Right‑hander Billy Gregory retired five straight Wildcats before Cadyn Karl launched a solo shot 396 feet to center, cutting the lead to 3‑2. In the third, Jacob Limas relieved Gregory with two on and one out; after a flyout, AJ Evasco singled to right to tie the game 3‑3.
Feser then took over, setting down the Lopes in order for three straight innings before allowing a hit in the sixth. He retired 13 of 15 batters faced. After a scoreless fourth, Kennedy’s record‑tying homer leveled the score at 3‑3.
In the sixth, K-State erupted for five unanswered runs. Bear Madliak scored the go‑ahead run on Karl’s bunt single, followed by two bases‑loaded walks, then RBI hits from Kennedy and Evasco. GCU loaded the bases in the bottom half, but Feser escaped the jam to preserve the lead.
By the Numbers
K‑State tallied eight runs on 11 hits with one error and eight left on base; GCU had three runs on seven hits with one error and five stranded. Seven Wildcats recorded hits, led by Kennedy and Karl with three each—both homered. Karl missed the cycle by only a triple. Kennedy and Evasco each drove in two runs. Feser, Arther, and Miles Smith combined for seven shutout relief innings; Feser allowed just one hit over four frames with two strikeouts and one walk. GCU’s Jace Smith (0‑2) took the loss, surrendering five earned runs on two hits and four walks. Six Lopes had hits, led by Billy Scaldeferri’s two.
Team Notes
Tuesday was the fourth meeting between the teams, with K‑State leading the all‑time series 4‑0 and the first matchup since 2016. The Wildcats have recorded double‑digit hits in 23 of 41 games this season. They improved to 17‑6 against non‑conference opponents, including 4‑2 in true road games. K‑State has hit two or more home runs in 19 games, going 14‑5 in those contests.
Player Notes
Karl hit his fifth homer of the year, becoming the eighth Wildcat with five or more. Kennedy’s 17th home run set the junior single‑season record and tied the overall single‑season mark. He also recorded his 32nd extra‑base hit of the season, joining 12 other players in school history with 32+ extra‑base hits in a year—sixth under Hughes. Chandler Murray extended his hitting streak to five games.
