Columbia Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Kansas State

Friday, February 27

Manhattan, Kan.

3:00 P.M.

Columbia

1-3

Kansas State

6-4

Columbia

Kansas State

Photo by: ABBY KENNEDY PHOTOGRAPHY

Columbia Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Kansas State

2/27/2026 11:23:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1 Box (PDF)Game 2 Box Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

Estabrook and Lopez shine in twinbill

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Columbia baseball picked up its first victory of the season in game one of a doubleheader at Kansas State on Friday. The Lions rallied for a 9-8 victory in the opener, then dropped a tightly contested 2-1 loss in the next game.

Columbia (1-4) erupted for five runs in the seventh inning of game one and held off Kansas State (7-4) late, while senior Tomas Lopez delivered seven scoreless innings in game two.

The teams will play the rubber game of the series on Saturday, February 28. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Game 1
The Lions tallied 12 hits and scored in four different innings to earn their first win of the season. Junior Owen Estabrook powered the Lions' offense, finishing 2-for-4 with a career-high five RBI, including a two-run homer in the sixth that sparked Columbia's rally. Sophomore Tate Vogler added two hits and two RBI, while senior Cole Fellows scored three times.

Senior Evan Kleinhans (1–0) earned the victory in relief, working 2.0 innings while allowing two runs and striking out one during the middle frames. Junior Baylor Hicks secured his first save of the season, tossing a scoreless ninth inning and retiring the Wildcats in order to preserve the one-run win.

The Wildcats struck first with a two-run homer in the fourth by AJ Evasco before adding three more runs in the fifth innings to build a 5-0 advantage. Columbia chipped away in the sixth when Estabrook launched a two-run shot, his third of the season, to trim the deficit to 5-2.

The Lions batted through the order in the seventh inning to take their first lead of the day. Sophomore Ben Fishel delivered an RBI single before Estabrook and sophomore Anthony Temesvary each plated one runner to bring the game within one. Vogler followed with a two-run single to center, completing the to put Columbia on top, 7-6.

However, Kansas State jumped back in front in the bottom of the frame after Shintaro Inoue knocked in a run from third on a groundout and Grant Gallagher slapped a single through the left side to make it, 8-7, in favor of the Wildcats.

Estabrook was the catalyst again in the eighth, giving the Lions the lead for good with a two-run double that was just out of the reach of the diving Wildcat centerfielder to bring in Brewer and Fellows.

Kansas State starter James Guyette delivered a strong outing, holding Columbia scoreless over five innings while striking out eight and allowing just three hits. Cole Wisenbaker received the loss after pitching the eighth.

Lucas Jackson recorded his first career hit in the win and picked up two in the contest.

Game 2
Lopez was dominant in the nightcap, tossing 7.0 shutout innings. He allowed just three hits and fanned three on 100 pitches, but was held to a no-decision after the Wildcats jumped in front in the eighth.

Columbia held a lead for the fifth consecutive game after Jimmy Chadwell's RBI single to plate Estabrook to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

At one point, Lopez retired 10 Kansas State batters in a row, but threatened in the seventh after a single and a walk. The right-hander escaped his only jam of the night after Estabrook gunned down a would-be base stealer at third to end the inning.

The Lions' bullpen issued back-to-back walks to start the eighth, which led to a Grant Gallagher double to left center, allowing both runners to score and giving Kansas State a one-run advantage.

Columbia put the tying run in scoring position in the top of the ninth, thanks to a Chadwell leadoff walk and sacrifice with one out. However, the Wildcats' Bill Eich recorded the final two outs to earn the win to cap a scoreless three innings of relief.

Brewer had a 3-for-5 night at the plate. Dan Mills (0-1) took the loss after allowing the only two batters he faced reach in the eighth.

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