Kansas State continued its strong offensive surge at the 2026 Big 12 Baseball Championship, powering past TCU with a convincing 9-4 victory on Wednesday night at Surprise Stadium to advance to the tournament quarterfinals.
The 11th-seeded Wildcats delivered another impressive all-around performance, combining explosive hitting with dominant pitching to secure their second straight postseason win. With the victory, K-State improved to 30-26 on the season and earned a quarterfinal matchup against second-seeded West Virginia.
After recording 13 hits in their previous game, the Wildcats stayed red-hot offensively by collecting 14 more hits against TCU. The lineup produced consistent pressure throughout the night, with Ty Smolinski and AJ Evasco leading the charge with three hits apiece. Kyan Lodice, Bear Madliak, and Cadyn Karl each added multiple hits as well, helping fuel an attack that generated six extra-base hits and built an early lead that TCU could never fully overcome.
Kansas State wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Dee Kennedy sparked the offense immediately with a leadoff single before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch. Smolinski drove him home with a double into the left-center gap, and Evasco followed later in the inning with a two-out RBI single to give the Wildcats a quick 2-0 advantage.
The Wildcats expanded their lead dramatically in the third inning. Lodice opened the frame with a single, which chased TCU starting pitcher Tommy LaPour from the game early. Smolinski then ripped a triple to right field, while walks and timely hitting from Grant Gallagher extended the lead to 5-0. Kansas State continued its offensive momentum in the fourth inning when Smolinski delivered another RBI hit and Evasco launched a two-out RBI triple to stretch the margin to 7-0.
Meanwhile, starting pitcher Tazwell Butler controlled the game on the mound for Kansas State. The right-hander dominated early, retiring 11 of the first 12 batters he faced while piling up six strikeouts during that stretch. TCU eventually broke through with two runs in the fifth inning, but Butler still turned in a strong outing overall, allowing just four hits and two runs across 4 2/3 innings while striking out seven batters.
The Wildcats answered immediately after TCU scored, once again showing their offensive resilience. Consecutive doubles from Lodice and Madliak helped add another run before Carlos Vasquez contributed with a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 9-2.
Although TCU attempted to rally later in the game, Kansas State’s bullpen shut the door. Reliever Adam Arther earned the win after providing solid middle relief, while Cohen Feser closed out the contest with three scoreless no-hit innings to earn his fourth save of the season. Feser worked around a difficult seventh inning that included defensive miscues and loaded bases, striking out two batters to prevent TCU from mounting a serious comeback.
The Wildcats’ balanced effort highlighted just how dangerous the team has become during the tournament. Seven of the nine starters recorded at least one hit, while five different players posted multi-hit performances. Kansas State also continued its success away from home, improving to 18-13 in road and neutral-site games this season.
With the victory, Kansas State has now reached the 30-win mark for the fourth consecutive season and advanced beyond multiple games in the Big 12 Championship for the first time since 2023. Riding strong momentum and an explosive offense, the Wildcats now turn their attention to a major quarterfinal showdown against West Virginia.
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