Cyr’s complete game not enough for Kansas at St. John’s

QUEENS, N.Y. – Redshirt-junior right hander Ryan Cyr tossed a complete game, as the Kansas baseball team dropped its second-straight contest at St. John’s, 3-1, Saturday afternoon at Jack Kaiser Stadium.
 
The contest stood as a pitchers’ duel with both hurlers going the distance. Cyr (2-1) pitched a career-high eight innings to give Kansas (13-5) an opportunity at a comeback after falling behind the Red Storm (6-9) in the fourth inning.
 
St. John’s lefty starter Joe LaSorsa (1-2) took that early fourth-inning lead and never turned back, picking up the win in his first nine-inning complete game. LaSorsa fanned seven Jayhawk hitters and allowed just one run in the first inning.
 
That run came after senior designated hitter Rudy Karre led off the game with a double and scored on a RBI-groundout by junior first baseman Jaxx Groshans. That was all the offensive rhythm KU mustered as the Jayhawks finished the final eight frames combining for three hits.
 
Cyr matched LaSorsa’s effort with five strikeouts and no walks. However, the difference maker for St. John’s came when Red Storm right fielder Brandon Miller tagged Cyr for a home run in the fourth inning. SJU tacked on an insurance run in the sixth thanks to one of KU’s three errors on the day.
 
Karre finished the game with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate, while Groshans and sophomore third baseman Skyler Messinger each connected for a base knock to round out the Jayhawks’ hit total on the day.
 
NOTABLES

  • Redshirt-junior Ryan Cyr pitched a personal-best eight innings for the first complete game of his career.
  • Cyr’s performance marked the second time this season a KU starting pitcher tossed at least seven innings without allowing a walk (Ryan Zeferjahn vs. St. Joseph’s on March 8).

QUOTES
Head coach Ritch Price
On the pitching performances:
“We knew when we came here that St. John’s had one of the best pitching staffs in America and the series has played out just like we thought it would. We have gotten two outstanding pitching performances from Ryan Zeferjahn and Ryan Cyr, but unfortunately we are 0-2. In order for us  to be successful we need to put together better at bats than we have, and hopefully we can do that tomorrow.”
 
UP NEXT
The Jayhawks try to salvage the series at St. John’s Sunday, March 17 with an 11 a.m. (CT) first pitch.

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