Sixth-inning Kansas rally defeats Georgetown

PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida – The Kansas baseball team used a four-run sixth inning Saturday night at North Charlotte Park to spark a comeback-victory over Georgetown, 6-2, in the Snowbird Classic.
 
Hoyas’ (2-12) starter Brent Killam diced the Jayhawks (10-3) up for five and 2/3 innings where he struck out 13 without allowing a hit. However, it was that 18th out that gave the southpaw trouble.
 
KU junior catcher Jaxx Groshans hit a routine popup to Georgetown shortstop Yareb Martinez with bases loaded and two outs. Martinez misplayed the ball and all three Jayhawks on base scored.
 
Junior left fielder Brett Vosik then broke up the no-hit bid with a RBI-double to give Kansas the lead, 4-2.
 
Redshirt-junior righty Ryan Cyr (2-0) pitched seven strong innings to match Killam’s effort, striking out eight batters. His only blemish came via a two-run home run by GU left fielder Kyle Ruedisili in the top of the sixth.
 
Sophomore right fielder Blaine Ray notched his first-career triple that drove in a run in the seventh while classmate Conner VanCleave knocked in a RBI as a pinch hitter in the same frame.
 
NOTABLES

• The three hits Kansas recorded matched its season low that it had against Texas Southern (Feb. 24).
• Redshirt-junior Ryan Cyr’s eight strikeouts matched his season and career high that he achieved in his first start of the season at USC Upstate (Feb. 16).

QUOTES
Head coach Ritch Price
On the resiliency of his team:
“It ends up being a great team win. (Brent) Killam pitched in the Cape Cod League last summer and is one of the best left handers in the country, and he looked like it tonight. Killam was absolutely dominant the first five and 2/3 innings. Georgetown made the crucial two-out error, but (Brett) Vosik comes up and gets the two-out RBI-base knock to make it a four-run inning. Then we keep adding. Ryan Cyr had to pitch a man’s game to match Killam’s effort.”
 
On the 10-3 start to the season:
“We are making progress. We knew the strength of our team was going to be our pitching staff, mainly our starting pitching and the backend of the bullpen. Once we get sound on offense, we will be in a much better place.”
 
UP NEXT
Kansas continues the Snowbird Classic with a 8:30 a.m. (CT) first pitch against Ball State on Sunday, March 10.

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