Wildcats’ Skid Continues With Third Straight Loss

A K-State baseball player pitches the ball. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

K-State baseball players lean out from the dugout while watching the game. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

A K-State baseball player pitches the ball. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

A K-State baseball player hits the ball. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

The 2026 home opener for the Kansas State Wildcats featured great back-and-forth action. On Friday, February 27, the Wildcats (6-3) hosted a doubleheader against the Columbia Lions (0-3).  The Lions came off a tough roadtrip dropping a three-game series to the Mercer Bears. The Wildcats similarly came off a tough roadtrip dropping both of their games against the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.

James Guyette started on the mound for the Cats, while Alex Sotiropoulos started for the Lions. Coming into the game, Guyette had posted a 4.91 ERA while Sotiropoulos was sitting at an impressive 2.25 ERA. Guyette was hot early, striking out two in the 1st inning, ending his day with 8 strikeouts through 5 inning pitched, while giving up no runs. 

K-State didn’t score until the 4th inning when AJ Evasco blasted a 421-foot two-run home run over the scoreboard to give the Cats the 2-0 lead. In the 5th inning, Dee Kennedy hit a triple to right field, scoring two, adding to the Cats' lead 4-0. Later in the inning, Evasco doubled down the left field line, scoring 1, ending the 5th inning, Cats leading 5-0.

The tide would start to change for the Lions in the 6th inning when Owen Estabrook hit a two-run home run, his third of the season, putting the Lions on the board 4-2. K-State would fire back later in the 6th when Kennedy singled through the left side of the infield scoing two and advancing to second base on an overthrow. 

The 7th inning was rough for the Cats, giving up 5 runs. It started with Ben Fishel singling to right center, scoring 1 run. The inning continued with back-to-back walks given up by K-State pitcher Adan Longoria with the bases loaded, scoring 2 more runs. Tate Vogler singled to center field, scoring two more runs, giving Columbia the 7-6 lead. 

K-State would strike back with two more runs in the 7th inning. Shintaro Inoue grounded out to second base, bringing Donte Lewis home, and Grant Gallagher singled through the left side of the infield, scoring Robby Bolin. After the 7th inning, the Wildcats led 8-7. 

Columbia put the game away in the 8th inning with two runs. Estabrook doubled to left-center field, giving Columbia the lead 9-8. K-State came up empty in the 8th and 9th innings, losing their first home game of the 2026 season. K-State will play two more games against Columbia before hosting SIUE on Friday, March 6th. With the loss, K-State moves to 6-4 on the season.