Kansas blasts past Texas Southern
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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Fueled by an 11-run fourth inning, the Kansas baseball team scored a season-high 20 runs Friday night in a 20-4 victory over Texas Southern at Hoglund Ballpark.
Kansas (24-22) recorded 17 plate appearances in that fourth inning against four different Tiger (16-28) pitchers. The squad connected for six hits, including two doubles and a triple. Sophomore left fielder Devin Foyle led off with that triple, while sophomore third baseman David Kyriacou and junior shortstop Matt McLaughlin each hit a double in the frame.
In total, the Jayhawks tallied eight extra-base hits, including three home runs, a triple and four doubles. Sophomore centerfielder Rudy Karre led the game off with a home run on the first pitch that Texas Southern starter Anthony Martinez (3-3) threw, while freshman second baseman James Cosentino (two RBI) and freshman Benjamin Sems (three RBI) each added a round-tripper.
Four different Kansas players recorded three RBIs in Karre, Cosentino, Sems and freshman catcher Jaxx Groshans. McLaughlin and Kyriacou joined in on the multi-RBI effort with two runs batted in apiece. In addition, thirteen different Jayhawks tallied at least one hit, with freshman Mateo Zunica (2-for-3) and Kyriacou (2-for-4) boasted the only multi-hit performances.
With that offensive showing, Kansas relied on six strong innings from its left-handed starter, junior Taylor Turski (3-4). The southpaw struck out four batters in his outing, walked another, and gave up two unearned runs in the third inning off an error.
The Tigers would score two more runs off reliever Casey Douglas, to round out their scoring on the night.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Three home runs: For the fourth time this season, Kansas blasted multiple home runs in a game. When the Jayhawks hit at least one home run in a game, they hold a 5-1 record. When KU hits two or more home runs, the team is undefeated with a perfect 4-0 mark.
Eleven-run fourth: The Jayhawks broke open the game in the fourth inning when they scored 11 runs after recording 17 plate appearances in the frame. Those were the most runs in a single inning since Kansas erupted for 11 runs in the sixth inning against Tabor on March 6, 2007.
Twenty runs: KU scored a season-high 20 runs against Texas Southern, eclipsing the 20-run mark for the first time against a Division I opponent since defeating Milwaukee, 22-6, on March 5, 2004. Prior to today, the closest the Jayhawks have come to that feat is when they scored 19 runs on three different occasions – Alabama A&M (May 14, 2011); Missouri State (April 8, 2006); and Kansas State (May 22, 2004).
UP NEXT
Kansas continues its four-game set against Texas Southern with a Saturday doubleheader at Hoglund Ballpark. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. Game two will begin approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first contest.
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