Saturday, February 28
Manhattan, Kan.
2:00 P.M.
Columbia
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Kansas State
8-4
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Columbia
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Kansas State
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Photo by: ABBY KENNEDY PHOTOGRAPHY
Second Inning Surge Lifts Kansas State over Columbia, 5-2
2/28/2026 5:51:00 PM | Baseball
Estabrook plates two early and bullpen shines, but Wildcats take the series
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Columbia baseball struck first Saturday afternoon, but a five-run second inning proved decisive as Kansas State outlasted the Lions, 5-2, at Tointon Family Stadium.
The Lions (1-5) wasted no time getting on board and took the lead for the sixth consecutive game in the top of the first. Junior Owen Estabrook delivered a two-run double to right center, bringing home Jackson Brewer and Cole Fellows to give the Lions an early 2–0 advantage.
Kansas State (8-4) responded in the bottom of the second inning when Ty Smolinski launched a three-run homer to put the Wildcats in front, 3-2. Shintaro Inoue and Micah Kendrick each contributed an RBI to extend the lead to 5-2.
After the damage, Columbia's pitching staff regrouped to shut the Wildcats out for the rest of the game. Sophomore Ray Huke quieted Kansas State's lineup with 2.2 hitless innings to keep Columbia within striking distance. Junior Payton Soske followed with 1.1 shutout frames and first-year Jack Korthas made his collegiate debut on the mound for another 2.0 innings while allowing one hit. The Lions held Kansas State to two hits over the final six innings.
Kansas State starter Lincoln Sheffield settled in after the rocky start and finished with eight strikeouts over 6.2 innings. The Lions nearly got to the Wildcats' bullpen late, bringing the tying run to the plate in the eighth and ninth innings, but could not get the runners in as Kansas State took the rubber game.
Sheffield improved to 3-0 on the season, while Cohen Feser picked up the save. Thomas Santana was charged with the loss for Columbia.
Junior Lucas Jackson picked up his second two-hit game of the series in the defeat.
UP NEXT
Columbia will face West Virginia from March 6-8 in Morgantown. The series is slated to begin on Friday, March 6, at 2 p.m. at Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
FOLLOW THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia baseball, follow @CULionsBaseball on X and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
The Lions (1-5) wasted no time getting on board and took the lead for the sixth consecutive game in the top of the first. Junior Owen Estabrook delivered a two-run double to right center, bringing home Jackson Brewer and Cole Fellows to give the Lions an early 2–0 advantage.
Kansas State (8-4) responded in the bottom of the second inning when Ty Smolinski launched a three-run homer to put the Wildcats in front, 3-2. Shintaro Inoue and Micah Kendrick each contributed an RBI to extend the lead to 5-2.
After the damage, Columbia's pitching staff regrouped to shut the Wildcats out for the rest of the game. Sophomore Ray Huke quieted Kansas State's lineup with 2.2 hitless innings to keep Columbia within striking distance. Junior Payton Soske followed with 1.1 shutout frames and first-year Jack Korthas made his collegiate debut on the mound for another 2.0 innings while allowing one hit. The Lions held Kansas State to two hits over the final six innings.
Kansas State starter Lincoln Sheffield settled in after the rocky start and finished with eight strikeouts over 6.2 innings. The Lions nearly got to the Wildcats' bullpen late, bringing the tying run to the plate in the eighth and ninth innings, but could not get the runners in as Kansas State took the rubber game.
Sheffield improved to 3-0 on the season, while Cohen Feser picked up the save. Thomas Santana was charged with the loss for Columbia.
Junior Lucas Jackson picked up his second two-hit game of the series in the defeat.
UP NEXT
Columbia will face West Virginia from March 6-8 in Morgantown. The series is slated to begin on Friday, March 6, at 2 p.m. at Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
FOLLOW THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia baseball, follow @CULionsBaseball on X and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sheffield, Lincoln (3-0)
L: Santana, Thomas (0-2)
S: Feser, Cohen (2)
Batting:
2B: Estabrook, Owen 1
RBI: Estabrook, Owen 2
SH: Chadwell, Jimmy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fellows, Cole 1 ; Brewer, Jackson 1
CS: Fellows, Cole 1
Batting:
2B: Gallagher, Grant 1
HR: Smolinski, Ty 1
RBI: Inoue, Shintaro 1 ; Kendrick, Micah 1 ; Smolinski, Ty 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Madliak, Bear 1 ; Gallagher, Grant 1 ; Evasco, AJ 1 ; Bolin, Robby 1 ; Smolinski, Ty 1
SB: English, Nick 1
HBP: English, Nick 1 ; Kendrick, Micah 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF/1B
/ BaseballC
/ BaseballOF/1B
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
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