Photos: Arizona baseball can't keep up with KSU, goes down 11-1 in Game 2
Arizona can't take advantage of 15 strikeouts in six innings by starter Smith Bailey as KSU gets to the bullpen in an 11-1 loss, April 18, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona starter Smith Bailey throws against Kansas State in the second inning, April 18, 2026, at Hi Corbett Field. Bailey struck out 15 in six innings, including three innings where he struck out the side. He left with a 1-0 lead, but UA ended up losing 11-1.
Arizona batter Carson McEntire (4) reacts after taking what he thought was ball four for a strike out in the seventh inning against Kansas State, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2026.
Kansas State starter Lincoln Sheffield (47) fires to first to nip Arizona batter Nate Novitske (47) on a nubber back to the mound in the third inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2026. Sheffield worked a complete game throwing eight innings in a run-rule 11-1 win over Arizona.
Arizona’s Carson McEntire (4) gets a helmet tap as he comes home on a solo shot to lead off the fifth and open the scoring against Kansas State during their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2026.
Kansas State catcher Bear Madliak (3) lunges forward to tag Arizona batter Nate Novitske (47) after he swung at a ball in the dirt to strike out in the fifth inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2026.
Arizona pitcher Smith Bailey (22) gives a yell after striking out the side, notching his 15th K and holding onto a one-run lead in the sixth inning against Kansas State on April 18, 2026, at Hi Corbett Field.
Arizona third baseman Maddox Mihalakis (33) loses track of the pickoff throw, letting Kansas State runner Bear Madliak (3) make it back to the bag in the eighth inning of their Big 12 game April 18, 2026, at Hi Corbett Field.
Kansas State shortstop Dee Kennedy (1), playing in the second base hole on a shift, shovels the ball to first to just beat Arizona batter Nate Novitske (47) for the second out in the eighth inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2026.
One of the participants in the hot sauce race lunges through the tape to just grab the win between innings of the Arizona Kansas State game, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2026.
Arizona shortstop Cash Brennan (13) makes the pivot as Kansas State runner Bear Madliak (3) looks on to see if the double play gets turned in the seventh inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2026. Kansas State’s Ty Smolinski (34) beat out the throw.
Arizona left fielder TJ Adams (23) backtracks to get under a sharp fly from Kansas State batter AJ Evasco (7) in the fourth inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2026. The out was the first KSU non-strike out of the game.
Kansas State pinch hitter Nick English (8) gestures to his dugout rounding second on his three-RBI homer that gave them a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning of their Big 12 game against Arizona, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2026.
Kansas State hitter Dee Kennedy (1) comes home on his grand slam in the eighth inning against Arizona, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2026. Kennedy had two hits and scored twice in the inning of the 11-1 KSU win.
Arizona head coach Chip Hale comes out to talk to the home plate umpire between innings after batter Carson McEntire (4) was called out for running into his own bunt out of the box in the second inning of their Big 12 game against Kansas State, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2026.
Former Arizona pitcher Gil Heredia delivers the ceremonial first pitch with his teammates from the 1986 College World Series winning team before Arizona’s Big 12 game against Kansas State, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2026.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist