Kansas State baseball began the 2026 season traveling to Arizona to play in the MLB Desert Invitational. The Wildcats played four games, each against a different opponent — Iowa, Connecticut, Penn State and Air Force — and prevailed in every one.
The weekend marked the first time K-State baseball has won its first four games of the season against four different opponents; a promising start to the year after a season where the Wildcats made regionals of the NCAA tournament but failed to advance any further.
In the four wins, K-State averaged over 14 runs a game, displaying its offensive power throughout the batting order. Though the offense got off to a good start on the season, K-State head coach Pete Hughes said the team has a long way to go and can’t look too far ahead.
“There is a lot of work to be done,” Hughes said. “We have to be realistic that we have bigger challenges ahead, and we need to improve.”
Vs. Iowa
In their first game against Iowa on Feb. 13, K-State won 15-6 behind the bat of shortstop Dee Kennedy, who had five RBIs and a grand slam. Kennedy is a returning starter from last season, but is moving to shortstop, where he will get to display more of his athleticism.
Right-handed pitcher James Guyette was the opening day starter for the Wildcats, where he went five innings, striking out eight batters and allowing four earned runs on the afternoon. Guyette was a bullpen arm last season but will look to be the ace in K-State’s rotation this year.
Redshirt freshman Chandler Murray hit his first collegiate home run against the Hawkeyes, while outfielder AJ Evasco had four hits and outfielder Kyan Lodice had three hits to help pace the offense.
Vs. UCONN
The Wildcats’ second game was against UCONN on Feb. 14. K-State scored in the first inning to make it 1-0, but the Huskies would score the next three runs over the second and third innings to make it 3-1. The Wildcats were able to muster a second run in the fifth inning but trailed 3-2 going to the eighth.
Everything flipped for K-State in the eighth inning. The ‘Cats got their leadoff man pinch hitter Micah Kendrick on base by a hit by pitch, and after pinch runner Cadyn Karl stole second base, outfielder Robby Bolin bunted to advance him to third. UCONN’s throw got by the first baseman and rolled into the right field corner, allowing the tying run to score and Bolin to end up at third.
K-State scored five runs in the eighth inning and took a 7-3 lead, which they held on to as right-handed pitcher Cohen Feser closed out the game. While the eighth inning was the go-ahead inning, that wouldn’t have been possible without relief pitcher Carson Liggett.
Liggett is coming off Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss the entire 2025 season. In his first appearance after the surgery, Liggett went five innings, allowing no runs and just two hits. His outing was vital as it kept the Wildcats within striking distance until the offense hit their groove.
Vs. Penn State
K-State’s third game against Penn State on Feb. 15 was the most lopsided game of the weekend as the Wildcats routed the Nittany Lions 24-5. Kennedy once again led the way for K-State as he hit two home runs, including another grand slam, and had seven RBIs.
The Wildcats were comfortably ahead all day, but in the seventh inning, K-State was able to notch 14 runs to extend their lead to 24-4. Penn State scored a run in the bottom of the seventh, but that wouldn’t be enough as the game was called due to a mercy rule.
Starting game three was left-handed pitcher Lincoln Sheffield, a returning starter from last season’s squad. Sheffield was consistent last season, getting a good start this year as he went five innings, allowing eight hits and two earned runs.
Vs. Air Force
The final game of the MLB Desert Invitational was on Feb. 16 and was the closest of the weekend as K-State was able to hold off a late comeback attempt by Air Force, winning 11-8. The Wildcats started Tanner Duke on the mound, but Duke didn’t have his best stuff and was only able to go two and two-thirds innings.
However, in relief of Duke was left-handed pitcher Robery Forternberry, who went three and two-thirds innings without giving up a run or hit. When Fortenberry came in, the game was tied 4-4, and by the time he left, K-State was up 8-4. The Wildcats would continue to bring in baserunners, extending their lead to 11-4 in the eighth inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Air Force hit back-to-back home runs, which included a two-run shot to make the score 11-7. In the ninth inning, Air Force got runners on and plated a run, but relief pitcher Tazwell Butler closed it out to get the Wildcats the victory, 11-8.
K-State had tremendous success in its opening series of the season, but with a lot of baseball left and some against stiffer competition, the ‘Cats will have much tougher challenges ahead. One of those challenges comes Friday, Feb. 20, as K-State faces No. 9-ranked Auburn in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series.
The Wildcats will also face Nebraska and Michigan over the weekend, which should also be tougher competition for Pete Hughes’ squad. First pitch from Arlington, Texas, is set for 7 p.m. against Auburn.
