Kansas State opened the 2026 Big 12 Baseball Championship with a 9-5 victory over Utah in Surprise, Arizona, turning an early three-run deficit into a decisive win.
A pivotal sixth inning
AJ Evasco ignited the rally with a two-run blast that shifted momentum, giving the Wildcats a glimpse of a comeback.
The following inning saw Kansas State seize the lead, but Utah answered back to knot the game at 5-5.
In the eighth, the Wildcats erupted for four unanswered runs, pulling away and securing the win.
Right-hander James Guyette recorded his 100th strikeout of the season, a milestone that places him among the top five single-season strikeout leaders in school history.
Guyette’s outing featured five innings of eight hits and six strikeouts, allowing just two earned runs before handing the ball to reliever Lincoln Sheffield.
Sheffield, a senior left-hander, closed the game with 2 2/3 shutout innings, retiring eight of nine batters and notching his eighth win of the year — the most ever by a K-State senior pitcher.
Head coach Pete Hughes praised the team’s resilience, highlighting the grit displayed by Sheffield and Guyette as a hallmark of the club’s character.
The win sets a positive tone for the Wildcats as they look to build momentum throughout the championship.