Jayhawks Drop Home Opener, 8-7

Junior left fielder Michael Suiter tallied two hits, including a two-run triple, for two RBIs and two runs scored.
Oral Roberts 8, Kansas 7
Hoglund Ballpark // Lawrence, Kan.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
ORU 0 1 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 8 11 1
KU 1 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 7 7 0

Box Score (.pdf)
Season Stats (.pdf)

Batting Leaders
Kansas AB R H RBI BB HR
M. Suiter 3 2 2 2 1 0
C. McKay 4 0 1 2 0 0
J. Boylan 3 1 2 1 1 0
Oral Roberts
J. Trevino 5 3 3 3 0 2
T. Boss 3 1 2 1 0 0
A. Sequeira 4 1 2 1 0 0
Pitchers
Kansas IP H R ER BB SO
D. Morovick 3.0 8 5 5 0 3
C. Toalson 1.1 1 1 1 1 2
S. Villines 2.2 0 0 0 0 2
D. Smith (1-1) 0.2 1 2 1 0 1
J. Piche’ 1.1 1 0 0 0 0
Oral Roberts
P. Wilson 1.1 2 2 2 1 0
C. Hightower 0.2 3 2 2 1 0
P. Gomez 4.1 1 2 1 1 0
J. Romano (1-0) 2.2 1 1 0 0 3

LAWRENCE, Kan. – A late two-run rally in the eighth inning proved to be the difference maker, as the Kansas baseball team fell to Oral Roberts, 8-7, Tuesday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark.
 
The Jayhawks (12-4) tallied seven runs off of seven hits, including four runs in the first two innings, but were unable to close the door late for their third-straight loss in the span of four days. Junior right-hander Dakota Smith (1-1) tossed just two-thirds of an inning, giving up two runs for the loss. Oral Roberts (7-8) closer Jordan Roma pitched two and two-thirds of an inning, giving up just one hit and one run, while striking out three for the win.
 
Junior left fielder Michael Suiter paced the Jayhawk offense with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, which included a walk, a two-run triple and two runs scored. Junior right fielder Connor McKay added two RBIs of his own, his coming off a single and a sacrifice fly, to extend his Big 12-leading total to 26 RBIs.
 
Jose Trevino paced the Golden Eagle lineup with a 3-for-5 performance, including two home runs, a single, three RBIs and three runs scored. Anthony Sequeira and Tyler Boss each added two hits and an RBI of their own to help put ORU on top.
 
Much like the 75 degrees at first pitch, the Kansas offense started out hot tallying four runs in the first two innings, including a three-run second, thanks to RBI-singles by McKay and senior catcher Ka’iana Eldredge, an RBI double by sophomore first baseman Jacob Boylan and a sacrifice fly by sophomore second baseman Tommy Mirabelli.
 
However, Oral Roberts answered right back, scoring four runs in the third to take a 5-4 lead. The Golden Eagles tallied six hits in the third frame, ending with four singles in a row to knock KU right-handed starter Drew Morovick out of the game. Morovick tossed just three innings, giving up eight hits and five runs, while throwing up three Ks.
 
ORU tacked on another run in the fifth inning off of a solo shot by Trevino, before Kansas rallied to take the lead in the seventh, 7-6.
 
Boylan led off the inning with a walk, followed by a fielder’s choice by junior shortstop Justin Protacio. Mirabelli then hit into another fielder’s choice, however a costly error by ORU second baseman Joey Migliaccio advanced Protacio to third and Mirabelli to second with one out. Then the big bat of Suiter smoked a two-run linedrive triple to left center to knot the score up at six, before McKay’s RBI groundout put the Jayhawks on top.
 
In an effort to save senior closer Jordan Piche’ for the weekend, head coach Ritch Price called upon Smith to shut the door the last two innings. He lasted just two-thirds of an inning, after giving up a home run to Trevino to start the eighth inning.
 
The Jayhawks are back in action Friday night, March 14, as they open Big 12 play against No. 10/14 Texas. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
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