HOUSTON, Texas – A powerful offensive display and a dominant outing from Tanner Duke powered Kansas State to a commanding 16–1 win over Houston on Saturday night at Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park, clinching the series. The Wildcats tallied 17 hits, highlighted by home runs from Micah Kendrick and Dee Kennedy, while Duke delivered a complete-game performance on the mound.
With the win, K-State improved to 15–4 overall and 2–0 in Big 12 play, securing its first conference series of the 2026 season while extending its winning streak to nine games. The Wildcats also became the first Big 12 team to reach 15 victories this season. Houston fell to 11–7 overall and 0–2 in conference play.
Head coach Pete Hughes praised Duke’s performance, noting that the pitcher set the tone early and allowed the offense to build momentum. Duke struck out nine batters over seven innings, limiting Houston to three hits while keeping pressure off the defense and allowing the Wildcats’ confident offense to take control.
Duke produced one of the best outings of his career, improving to 2–1 on the season after throwing seven complete innings. He carried a one-hitter into the sixth inning and allowed only one runner to reach scoring position before Houston managed to score. Overall, Duke retired 20 of the 25 batters he faced and finished with nine strikeouts while allowing just three hits.
His performance marked the first three-hit outing by a Wildcat pitcher since Nate Griep accomplished the feat against Oklahoma on May 8, 2015.
Despite clinching the series, Hughes emphasized the importance of remaining focused, noting that Big 12 standings ultimately depend on total conference wins, with another opportunity coming in the series finale.
After two scoreless innings, Kansas State’s offense erupted for 16 runs across five straight innings. Ten different Wildcats recorded hits, with five players posting multi-hit games. Shintaro Inoue and Carlos Vasquez each collected three hits, going 3-for-5, while Vasquez drove in a game-high four RBIs.
The victory also marked K-State’s fourth run-rule win of the season, tying the program’s single-season record. It was also the first time in school history that the Wildcats recorded two run-rule victories against a conference opponent in the same series.
How It Happened
Duke started strong, retiring 10 of the first 11 hitters he faced, including striking out the side in the opening inning.
Kansas State broke the scoreless tie in the third inning after consecutive hits from catcher Shea McGahan and third baseman Grant Gallagher. McGahan scored on a sacrifice fly by Kendrick, while Gallagher came home on an RBI single from Inoue.
The Wildcats extended the lead to 4–0 in the fourth inning thanks to a hit down the right-field line by Cadyn Karl.
In the fifth inning, Kendrick launched a 363-foot opposite-field home run to start a three-run frame. Inoue later scored, and Kennedy followed with a home run his ninth of the season to stretch the lead to 7–0.
Kansas State continued to pile on runs, adding nine more to secure the decisive victory and the conference series.
Inside the Box
Kansas State finished with 16 runs on 17 hits, committing one error and leaving seven runners on base. Houston managed just one run on three hits with one error and stranded three runners.
Duke earned the win after pitching a complete seven-inning game, allowing one unearned run while recording nine strikeouts without issuing a walk.
Houston starter Kendall Hoffman took the loss after giving up seven runs (six earned) on nine hits with five strikeouts. Relievers Jackson Baker and Harrison Boushele combined to allow nine additional runs.
Ten Wildcats recorded hits, with five players finishing with multiple hits. Vasquez and Inoue led the team with three hits each, while Vasquez topped all players with four RBIs. Five other Kansas State players also recorded multiple RBIs.
The Wildcats were particularly effective with runners in scoring position, hitting .667 (8-for-12), compared to Houston’s 1-for-5 (.200).
Team Notes
Kansas State now leads the all-time series with Houston 9–4, including a 7–2 record in games played in Houston and a five-game winning streak at the Cougars’ home field.
The Wildcats have homered in 13 of their 19 games this season, including multiple home runs in seven contests. They have also scored first in 11 games, compiling a 10–1 record in those matchups.
Over their last eight games, Kansas State has hit 18 home runs and scored 94 runs on 97 hits during the past seven contests.
The series also marked the Wildcats’ first road series victory since defeating BYU in 2025. Additionally, the team has now won three straight Big 12 opening-weekend series: Cincinnati in 2024, Utah in 2025, and Houston in 2026.
The 2026 squad becomes the 12th team in program history to achieve a nine-game winning streak, tying the second-longest streak during the Hughes era.
Player Notes
Duke became the first Kansas State pitcher since Nate Griep in 2015 to record a three-hit game. His nine strikeouts and seven-inning outing both marked career highs, and it was the program’s first complete game since Lincoln Sheffield’s performance against Utah on March 16, 2025.
Kennedy hit his team-leading ninth home run of the season, while Kendrick added his fourth.
Inoue enjoyed an outstanding series, going 8-for-11 (.727) with eight RBIs. Vasquez recorded his fifth game with at least two RBIs and his sixth multi-hit performance.
AJ Evasco leads the team with 11 multi-hit games this season, while Kennedy has produced a team-best 10 multi-RBI performances. Ty Smolinski has reached base in 11 straight games, the second-longest streak by a Wildcat this year behind Robby Bolin’s 16-game run.
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