Baylor defeats Kansas in first game of doubleheader
LAWRENCE, Kan.– A seven-run seventh inning gave the Baylor Bears an 8-2 win in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark in the Jayhawks’ home opener.
Junior starting pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn (3-1) got the nod in the team’s opener, pitching six frames while allowing only one earned run. The right-hander has struck out five batters or more in all seven games he has started this season.
Baylor starting pitcher Paul Dickens (3-1) held the Jayhawks (14-11, 0-4) hitless through four innings until sophomore right fielder Blaine Ray blasted his first-career home run to give Kansas the lead in the fifth.
The Bears’ (19-6, 4-0) seven-run rally in the seventh inning proved too much for the Jayhawks as they couldn’t provide any more run support.
Ray ended the day 2-for-3, adding a single to his career day as well.
NOTABLES
- Kansas starting pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn has gone six-straight starts without allowing a run in the first three innings of a game.
- Zeferjahn has struck out five or more batters in seven-straight starts and has also pitched five or more frames in six games this season.
- Sophomore right fielder Blaine Ray blasted his first-career home run to take a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning. His two total hits marks a career high as well.
QUOTES
Sophomore right fielder Blaine Ray
On his first-career home run:
“It felt good. It was good to give us the lead in the fifth inning. I was struggling early and fouling off a lot of pitches. But, I finally got the pitch I wanted and hit it.”
Head coach Ritch Price
On Zeferjahn’s performance:
“I think he didn’t have his best command today. He fought himself through the whole six innings. He showed the ability to get in and out of trouble and it was a gutty performance.”
On Blaine Ray’s first-career home run:
“I was hoping to get some production out of him with the left hander on the mound. Some of our guys have been struggling with those lefty matchups. I played him and (Nolan) Metcalf hoping that they would run into one.”
On bouncing back for game two of the doubleheader:
“Obviously, it was a 2-1 game going into the seventh. It’s going to start with Ryan Cyr. They can really hit the fastball. So, we have to change speed and not walk anyone to make sure we can eliminate the crooked numbers.”
UP NEXT
The Jayhawks will play the second game of the doubleheader against Baylor at 6 p.m.
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