| Junior RF Connor McKay congratulated by starting RHP Drew Morovick after hitting a two-run home run. |
Kansas 10, BYU 1
Peoria Stadium // Peoria, Ariz. |
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
R |
H |
| KU |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
10 |
8 |
| BYU |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
Box Score (.pdf)
|
| Batting Leaders |
| Kansas |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
HR |
| K. Eldredge |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| T. Mirabelli |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
| C. McKay |
4 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
| BYU |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| K. Caldwell |
4 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| B. Lund |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| K. Caldwell |
5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Top Pitchers |
| Kansas |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| D. Morovick |
7.1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
| J. Piche’ |
1.2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| BYU |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| J. Barker |
7.0 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
| H. Parker |
1.0 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Photo Gallery
PEORIA, Ariz. – For the first time since 2007, the Kansas baseball team opened the season by sweeping its opponent, this time taking four games from BYU by winning the fourth Monday afternoon at Peoria Stadium, 10-1.
“It was all business this weekend,” head coach Ritch Price said. “Everyone came to play and went about their business and it was great to come out and sweep the series today. We had five great workouts this weekend, plus the one Thursday night at Grand Canyon University, and I feel like we have improved each day of this trip.”
Monday’s victory for Kansas (4-0) over the Cougars (0-4) came at the arm of junior right hander Drew Morovick (1-0), making the 11th start of his career. Morovick tossed seven and a third innings, allowing just three hits and an earned run while striking out five batters for a 1.23 ERA. Morovick had four one-two-three innings, including a four-pitch fifth.
“When your changeup is working, the fastball is tough to hit,” Morovick said. “It is tough because it sneaks up on you. We really stressed the changeup against the lefties because they were hitting the fastball really well all weekend.”
Senior right-handed closer Jordan Piche’ entered the game in the eighth inning with runners on first and second, one out and a 4-0 Jayhawk lead. He pitched one and two thirds innings, allowing one hit and a walk, while recording a strikeout. He was credited with the save.
The Jayhawks tallied eight hits, three of which were with two outs that drove in three runs. Connor McKay only needed one hit to contribute to the run production, as he hit a two-run bomb in the eighth to increase the KU lead, 4-0.
However, it was Tommy Mirabelli who broke the game wide open in the ninth with a one-out, two-RBI double over the centerfield’s head, which helped Kansas put up a six spot in the inning. Mirabelli ended the game one-for-three with a double, two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk.
BYU’s Jeff Barker (0-1) was credited with the loss after throwing seven innings and allowing three hits and two earned runs, one of which was off the bat of Michael Suiter, who broke the 0-0 tie in the sixth inning with an RBI single.
Ka’iana Eldredge was the only KU player to record multiple hits, finishing the day two-for-four with an RBI and a run scored.
Kansas outscored the Cougars 33-15 in four games, with 13 runs coming with two outs.
“What impressed me the most was that all those runs with two outs, somebody different stepped up and had the clutch hit,” Price said. “Everyone in the lineup contributed to the success of the team this weekend and it really helped us improve and get better heading into next weekend.”
The Jayhawks head to Port Charlotte, Fla., next weekend to play in the Snow Bird Classic, Feb. 21-24, against Northwestern, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Mississippi Valley State and St. Bonaventure.
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