Mountaineers blast past Kansas
LAWRENCE, Kan. – West Virginia used a 23-hit performance to power past Kansas, as the Jayhawk baseball team dropped game one of the weekend set, 21-3, Friday night at Hoglund Ballpark.
The Mountaineers (24-19, 7-10 Big 12) tagged Kansas (20-25, 3-12 Big 12) starter Jackson Goddard (4-1) for eight runs in four innings of work, including five in the second inning.
Goddard finished his day giving up nine hits – three extra-base hits – and three walks, compared to two strikeouts. Redshirt-sophomore Jonah Ulane got knocked around for five runs off four hits and walk in his 2/3 innings pitched, before senior reliever Tyler Davis held the only scoreless outing with no runs allowed in one and 1/3 innings of relief.
Sophomore Gabriel Sotomayor, senior Casey Douglas and freshman Daniel Hegarty combined to throw the final three innings as they gave up eight runs off eight hits collectively.
Offensively, Kansas mustered just three runs of eight hits, with two coming off West Virginia starter BJ Myers (1-1). Myers tossed seven innings and allowed just one earned run.
Sophomore catcher Jaxx Groshans knocked in one of those three runs with his 2-for-3 performance at the plate that included a double. Sophomore shortstop Benjamin Sems (double) and junior Blake Shinkle (triple) had the other two extra-base hits for the Jayhawks, with Shinkle’s coming in pinch-hit fashion.
UP NEXT
Kansas continues its series with West Virginia Saturday, May 5, with a 2 p.m. first pitch. Fans can watch the action on the Jayhawk Television Network or tune into the audio broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network via KUAthletics.com/Radio.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Booted ball: With the bases loaded and one out in the second inning, freshman third baseman Skyler Messinger booted a routine ground ball that could have been a double play. That extended the frame and led to a five-spot, igniting the Mountaineer offense.
Freebies: Kansas pitchers combined to give 11 free passes to West Virginia – eight walks and three hit-by-pitches. Of those 11, seven came around to score.
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