Coming off a tougher-than-expected home opener, your Kansas State Wildcats are set for another home series in the early part of the season as they host Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) for a three game set.
K-State opened their home slate last weekend going 2-1 against the Columbia Lions, falling 8-9 to the visitor from New York in the first game of the Friday double-header, before picking up game two 2-1. In the Saturday finale, the Cats finally looked a bit more comfortable and picked
up a healthy 5-2 win to end the weekend at 8-4 overall on the season.
Next up are the Cougars, who have opened up the season at 5-8. SIUE, who was picked to win the Ohio Valley this season, open their 2026 campaign going 1-2 against North Alabama on the road, before dropping a home contest against Illinois State, then went 1-2 against Southeastern Louisiana down in the “toe” of Louisiana.
Last week, they pick up a 17-7 win over Saint Louis in Edwardsville in 7 innings, before splitting a four-game set with Eastern Michigan. They completed their homestand with a 7-8 loss to Bradley back on Tuesday.
All three games this weekend are currently set to be broadcast on ESPN+ via production from K-StateHD.TV, with Matt Walters (play-by-play) and Mike Clark (analyst) covering the action there. Brian Smoller is currently listed as the PbP guy for TV, but with the MittieCats having an incredible run in Kansas City at the Big 12 Tournament, he’ll likely not be headed back for at least the start of the series.
All three games will be available on KMAN Online in Manhattan and streaming on the Varsity Network app and kstatesports.com/watch with … someone doing play-by-play, joined by Jared Goedert for Friday and Saturday, and Trevor Hurley coloring the broadcast on Sunday.
As of this posting, K-State has not adjusted time for the Friday opener due to potentially inclement weather in the Manhattan area.
Game 1
As he has all season, James Guyette will take the mound first for the Wildcats for their 4pm CT contest with the Cougars this Friday afternoon. Guyette’s ERA has fallen steadily after a bit of a rough go in the season opener, and despite K-State losing to open the last series, it was not on Guyette as he opened that game tossing five scoreless innings, giving up just three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. He enters his fourth start of the season with a 1-1 record and a 3.38 ERA.
The BatCats will face Jase Phillips, who will also be making his fourth of the season. The junior righty is in his first season in Edwardsville after starting his career at Pensacola State College. He enters the series with a 1-1 record, but his longest outing came last week when he went five innings against Eastern Michigan. He earned the win in that game despite giving up four runs on four hits, including two home runs, and three walks against just three strikeouts.
Game 2
Saturday’s game is currently set for a 4pm CT start time, and Pete Hughes will send the third different starter in three weeks to the mound for the middle game of the series, with Tanner Duke headed to the mound for his first weekend start — replacing the injured Carson Liggett. Duke is 0-1 on the season, taking the loss after surrendering the only run of the game in his start against Louisiana last week in over six innings of work. But, that was a pretty big bounce-back from the junior right-hander, as he had given up four runs on six hits in just under three innings against Air Force in his first start this season. This is a natural step up for Duke, who also made seven starts last year in his first season in Manhattan after migrating north from Waco.
SIUE will be sending Tim Teixeira (does not appear to be related to Mark) to the mound for the Saturday contest. The sophomore righty is making his fourth start of the season after being a regular starter for the Cougars as a true freshman last season. Despite that, his ERA is rather high at 8.03 for the season, and has given up 10 runs on 12 hits in his last two outings — in both outings he took the loss. This could be the game that the BatCats really go run crazy if they can get on Teixeira early.
Game 3
On for the 1pm CT game on Sunday is Lincoln Sheffield, who is 3-0 on the season with a 3.93 ERA. Sheffield has been the rock for the Wildcats weekend rotation, and after going five innings in the route of Penn State, went nearly seven innings in each of his last two starts. Last Saturday against Columbia, he gave up two runs on six hits, but gave up just one free base while fanning eight Lions batters.
The Cougars are set to send Spencer Stearns to the mound to start the finale. The junior righty, playing for his hometown university, will also also be making his fourth start of the season, after being a regular weekend starter last year for SIUE. He’s logged 16 innings of work in his previous three starts, and has yet to pitch in a game won by the Cougars this season. Last time out, he went just four innings against Eastern Michigan, giving up six runs, three earned, on five hits and three walks, also hitting a batter and was credited with a wild pitch. Despite that, his ERA sits at 3.94 on the season, and seems to be good at letting batters make contact to put his defense to work.
