Baseball Season Ends in Heartbreaking Walk-Off Loss to KCKCC

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The 2026 season came to a heartbreaking end Friday (May 8) afternoon for the Colby Trojans, as Kansas City Kansas walked off Colby 13-12 in a dramatic nine-inning battle in the deciding elimination game of the opening round playoff series in Kansas City.

Facing a must-win situation after dropping Game 1 of the series, the Trojans responded with one of their best offensive performances of the season, piling up 14 hits and building multiple leads throughout the afternoon. But despite carrying a four-run advantage into the bottom of the ninth inning, Colby could not hold on as KCKCC rallied for six runs in its final at-bat to end the Trojans' season in devastating fashion.

Colby wasted little time applying pressure offensively. The Trojans broke through in the top of the second inning when Matt Murray delivered an RBI single to score the game's first run. KCKCC answered in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game 1-1 after Trevor McGraw grounded into a double play that still allowed a run to cross the plate.

In the third inning, Jake Brooks continued his huge postseason series with a solo home run to right field, putting Colby back in front 2-1. The Blue Devils answered quickly once again, taking a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning following a two-run home run from Ian Woita.

Colby erupted for six runs on five hits in the top of the fourth to take an 8-3 lead and seize momentum. Charlie Langford delivered the biggest hit of the inning with a bases-clearing double that drove in three runs. Murray added another RBI, while the Trojans consistently strung together quality at-bats against the KCKCC pitching staff.

In the sixth inning, Turner Zdunich launched a two-run home run to right field, extending the Trojans' lead. Colby added another run in the seventh and one more in the eighth to carry a 12-8 advantage into the final inning.

But the ninth inning proved to be the difference. Trailing 12-8 entering their final at-bat, KCKCC mounted a furious rally with five hits and multiple walks to storm back. Brady Kern delivered the biggest hit of the inning with a two-run double before Kirkham eventually drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home the winning run and complete the comeback.

Brooks led the way offensively with a massive four-hit performance, going 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs from the ninth spot in the lineup. Langford drove in three runs while finishing 2-for-6, and Murray collected three hits and two RBIs. Jacob Mraz added two doubles and an RBI, while Zdunich contributed two RBIs with his sixth-inning homer.

On the mound, Rory MacDonald gave Colby a solid start, allowing five runs over 5.2 innings while striking out six batters. Tommy Mann worked in relief before Dallen Rude entered late in the game. Defensively, the Trojans played one of their cleaner games of the season, committing no errors while turning two double plays behind strong defensive efforts from Langford, Callum Thomson, and Brooks. 

KCKCC finished with 16 hits in the contest, including three-hit performances from Woita, Braden Horn, Owen Musil, and Kirkham. Musil drove in four runs for the Blue Devils.

The loss officially ends the Trojans' 2026 season as they finish 20-38 (12-20 KJCCC) including a .500 record at home and several close battles with high level opponents.