Utah baseball scored five unanswered runs in the bottom of the eighth to even the series Saturday, as the Utes defeated Kansas State, 13-11, at Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark. 

The two squads were neck-and-neck until the Wildcats (18-9, 4-4 Big 12) grabbed an 11-8 lead in the eighth behind home runs from Shintaro Inoue and Ty Smolinski.

Utah (14-10, 4-4 Big 12) responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring five unanswered runs, that included a go-ahead three-run homer from Derek Smith – his second of the game. 

“I thought I guys competed all game,” head coach Pete Hughes said in a statement. “We always do, and right now it’s not enough to just compete. We need to compete and get the job done – and we will. We’ve battled and took leads late, but have been unable to finish out games. We didn’t beat ourselves today – [Utah] earned their hits and their runs. Our intent was there, and I know the results will come soon.” 

In addition to Inoue and Smolinski, Dee Kennedy and Grant Gallagher each homered in game two of the series, marking the team’s fourth game with four or more home runs.

How it happened

Utah plated four runs with six hits over the first and second innings, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Jet Gilliam. Cohen Feser relieved left-handed starter Lincoln Sheffield in the third and set down the Utes in order, including back-to-back strikeouts.

After three quiet innings, Kennedy ended the drought with a towering 448-foot leadoff home run to left – his 12th of the season – sparking a six-run fourth inning for the Wildcats.

Gallagher and Bear Madliak each walked to bring AJ Evasco to the plate. The designated hitter singled to center to trim the deficit to two before Cadyn Karl walked to load the bases, forcing Utah to make its first call to the pen.

Carlos Vasquez welcomed the new arm with a bases-clearing double down the left field line, giving the Wildcats a 5-4 lead. Nick English followed with a double down the left field line to cap the surge.

The Utes answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, but Gallagher responded with a solo home run. 

Utah trailed 8-5 until back-to-back home runs by Cal Miller and pinch hitter Derek Smith erased the Wildcats’ lead.

Inoue and Smolinski each homered in the eighth to break the tie and put the Wildcats back on top, however, the lead was short lived, as Utah responded with five runs to put the game away.

Up next

The Wildcats look to go for the series win Sunday, with the rubber match scheduled for 2 p.m. CT at America First Ballpark. Sunday’s matchup will broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app while radio coverage is available on KMAN.