Weiman Duels in 2-1 Loss at Baylor
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WACO, Texas – Sophomore lefty Blake Weiman turns in another quality start as the Kansas baseball team falls short at Baylor, 2-1, Saturday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark.
The southpaw did all he could to keep Kansas (10-14, 1-3 Big 12) in the ballgame through six and 1/3 innings, but a few miscues defensively forced Weiman to pitch in and out of trouble all day against the Bears (12-14, 2-3 Big 12).
“It was a well-pitched game on both sides,” head coach Ritch Price said. “However, I thought the defense was sloppy on both sides. There were balls that should have been double play balls that were dropped. It is not often you look at the scoreboard and see a 2-1 game and feel like both teams played poor defensively. I also think it speaks highly of both starting pitchers.”
Weiman (1-2) put his best foot forward giving up just two runs off eight hits and two walks, striking out five batters in the process. However, as Price alluded, both Baylor runs came in innings where Kansas misplayed balls and gave the Bears extra life.
“(Weiman) was in trouble most of the day, there is no doubt about that,” Price said. “They had baserunners in every single inning. At this level, you have to catch all 27 outs. You can’t give a team 32 outs and expect to win.”
One of those extra outs came in the first inning after Baylor loaded the bases with no outs. Weiman buckled down to strike out the No. 4 hitter to open up the possibility of a double play to end the inning. BU first baseman Aaron Dodson proceeded to hit one hard on the ground to short where sophomore Matt McLaughlin fielded it with a slight bobble, but managed to get the force at second. However, the run scored and the Bears took the early lead, 1-0.
Then in the seventh inning, BU third baseman Sean McLean led off the inning with a hard high ball to left field. Freshman Devin Foyle had to run all the way to the wall but couldn’t come up with the catch as the ball hit off his glove and McLean was into second with a double – he eventually scored to put Baylor up, 2-1.
“Devin goes back to the wall and doesn’t get to the fence and somehow finds a way to misplay the ball,” Price said. “That ended up being the winning run. In the first inning, we made a bad play. Then a guy smokes the double play ball to shortstop and we had a chance to turn two and get out of it. We end up kicking that one and they scored in that inning.”
Even with those two miscues that led to both runs, Kansas had its opportunities to score off Baylor starter Drew Tolson (3-1). The Jayhawks stranded eight runners on base, six coming with junior catcher Michael Tinsley and McLaughlin at the plate. Combined, the three-through-six hitters for KU were 1-for-15 with a walk. Tinsley ended innings three times with at least one runner on base while McLaughlin was credited with stranding two.
Freshman third baseman Rudy Karre led Kansas with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate driving in the lone KU run off of the team’s only extra-base hit – a double. Senior right fielder Joe Moroney scored that run after reaching second base in the third inning by way of a fielder’s choice and an errant pickoff attempt.
“Anytime you look at our box score – if our three, four, five and six hitters only get one hit, we are going to have trouble scoring runs,” Price said. “Those are our impact players. Those are four of the best players in our league and certainly the best offensive guys on our club. If they don’t get a hit, we are going to have a tough day at the plate.”
The Jayhawks turn their attention to Sunday and call to freshman righty Jackson Goddard (2-1) for another quality start on the bump. He will face off against Baylor freshman Kyle Hill in the pivotal series clincher.
“We have to get another quality start,” Price said. “Goddard is going to have to command his fastball down and be able to mix. It will start with him and then we have to play solid defense. We have to play clean and let Goddard pitch to contact to give ourselves the best chance at winning the series.”
First pitch from Baylor Ballpark Sunday, April 3 is set for 1 p.m. Fans can watch the game on Fox Sports Midwest+ and Fox Sports Go, or tune into the action live on Jayhawk Radio Network via KUAthletics.com/Radio.
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