In a thrilling and ultimately heartbreaking contest, the Kansas State Wildcats baseball team fell to in-state rivals, the No. 16 Kansas Jayhawks, with a final score of 10-8 on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Tointon Family Stadium in Manhattan, KS. This intense game saw significant swings in momentum, culminating in a dramatic ninth-inning comeback by the Jayhawks.

The Wildcats started strong, with Dee Kennedy launching a solo home run in the first inning, marking his 18th of the season and setting a new K-State single-season home run record. Kennedy continued his impressive performance with another two-run homer in the third inning, giving Kansas State a 3-2 lead. Starting pitcher Lincoln Sheffield delivered a solid outing for the Wildcats, allowing only two runs on six hits and striking out seven batters over 6.2 innings.

The game remained tight until the eighth inning, where Kansas took a brief 5-3 lead after capitalizing on two K-State errors. However, the Wildcats immediately responded with an explosive bottom of the eighth. Cadyn Karl electrified the crowd with a massive 453-foot, three-run home run, putting Kansas State back in front, 6-5. Micah Kendrick then added to the lead with an RBI double, followed by an RBI double from Nick English, extending the Wildcats’ advantage to 8-5.

Despite the late surge, the Jayhawks mounted a formidable comeback in the top of the ninth inning, scoring five runs to snatch the victory. A pivotal three-run homer by Brady Ballinger and a solo shot by Tyson Owens sealed the 10-8 win for Kansas. This “heartbreaking” loss, as described by K-State head coach Pete Hughes, marked a tough battle for the Wildcats in the Sunflower Showdown.