Kansas State University’s baseball team is set to host Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) for a three-game series at Tointon Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas. The series begins on Friday at 4 p.m. CT and continues through Sunday, marking the first time these two programs will meet.
K-State enters the weekend with an 8-4 record, while SIUE holds a 5-8 mark. The Wildcats recently secured their first series win of the season with a 5-2 victory over Columbia, highlighted by Lincoln Sheffield’s strong pitching performance and a three-run home run from Ty Smolinski. Sheffield allowed only two runs over 6 2/3 innings for his first quality start this year.
The projected starting pitchers for K-State are James Guyette (Friday), Tanner Duke (Saturday), and Lincoln Sheffield (Sunday). Guyette leads the staff with 20 strikeouts this season, ranking fourth in the Big 12 Conference. Sheffield has earned four consecutive wins in his outings, and K-State has won seven straight games when he starts.
SIUE was selected as the preseason favorite in the Ohio Valley Conference after finishing last season with an 18-8 league record. First baseman Ryan Niedzwiedz leads the OVC in home runs and was named both Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week and to Baseball America’s Team of the Week following recent performances. Senior shortstop Chase Bloomer is on the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List for the third time.
K-State’s offense is led by AJ Evasco, who is hitting .362, and Dee Kennedy, who has four home runs and ranks second in the Big 12 with 21 RBI. Kennedy was also selected to the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List, making him one of three Wildcat shortstops to receive national recognition in recent years.
Grant Gallagher received Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Week honors after leading K-State to its series win over Columbia with a .444 batting average during that stretch. Donte Lewis was named to the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Watch List as both an outfielder and pitcher.
On defense, K-State boasts a team ERA of 3.81, holding opponents to a .245 batting average. The bullpen has limited opposing hitters to just .197 while averaging nearly nine strikeouts per nine innings.
At home, K-State finished last season with an 18-3 record at Tointon Family Stadium—the best among Big 12 teams—and has maintained strong results there under head coach Pete Hughes.
Fans can watch all three games live on ESPN+ or listen online via KStateSports.com/watch or local radio broadcasts.
