Jayhawks close midweek slate with Jackson State
| JACKSON STATE |
|---|
| May 7, 2019 |
| 2:30 p.m. (DH) |
| Lawrence, KS |
| Hoglund Ballpark (2,500) |
| Watch |
| Listen |
| Game Notes |
KU (26-21) is coming off a weekend series sweep of Texas and looks to ride that momentum in the two-game stint against JSU (29-21).
With start times happening during school hours, fans are encouraged to park in either the Allen Fieldhouse or Central District parking garage and pay the hourly rate until 4:30 p.m.
After that time, the lots around Hoglund Ballpark will no longer require a parking permit and fans can move their vehicles into those designated areas without being ticketed.
On the second game of the doubleheader will be available on ESPN+ while both can be heard on the Jayhawk Radio Network. For updates regarding the schedule as the weather develops, please check back to KUAthletics.com or follow the Kansas baseball social media accounts.
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BRING OUT THE BROOMS
Kansas wrapped up the weekend with a three-game sweep of Texas. The sweep marks the first series sweep of a Big 12 opponent since the Jayhawks swept West Virginia (May 9-11) in 2014. It is also the first home sweep since March 9-11, 2018, when the Jayhawks swept then-No. 20 Saint Johns. The series marks only the second time in Kansas history that the Jayhawks have swept the Longhorns, with the first time coming during the 2009 series.
FIRST TIME BIG 12 HONORS FOR THE ROOKIE
Freshman outfielder Casey Burnham was awarded Newcomer of the Week for his late-game heroics in the Jayhawks’ first game against the Longhorns (May 3). The rookie launched a walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game for Kansas. In addition to being his first career four-bagger, Burnham has started to develop late in the season. The Nebraska native has gone 5-for-10 (.500) in his last four games with a double, a triple, a home run, and two walks.
BIG 12 PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Ryan Cyr earned Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors for his Maddux-style performance on Saturday afternoon when he pitched a complete game shutout in the second game of the series against Texas (May 4). That victory secured the series win for Kansas and led to an eventual sweep of Texas.
HE’S ‘CYR’-IOUS
Redshirt-junior starting pitcher Ryan Cyr recorded his third-straight game and fourth of the season in a shutout effort against Texas (May 4) to earn Kansas the series victory over the Longhorns. It took Cyr just 86 pitches to navigate his Maddux-like performance where he struck out six and allowed just four baserunners in the win – two hits and two walks.
THREE IN HIS LAST EIGHT GAMES
Junior left fielder Brett Vosik broke a multi-year home run drought Friday (April 26) at Furman when he hit the Jayhawks’ second grand slam of the season. That home run hack was the first for the lefty bat in 745 days with his last four-bagger coming on April 11, 2017 at Wichita State. In addition, Vosik hit a home run at Air Force (April 30) and against Texas (May 3), and now owns a six-game hitting streak. During that six-game span, Vosik is 12-for-27 (.444) with a double, two triples and two home runs.
CLOSING THE DOOR
After the three-game sweep of Texas (May 3-5), Kansas is now a perfect 23-0 when leading the game after eight innings and 22-1 when leading after seven.
SIX RUNS OR MORE
Kansas averages 5.5 runs per game in 47 contests played in 2019. That number is just shy of the Jayhawks’ magic number of six. When KU scores six or more runs in a contest, it holds a record of 20-1. Conversely, when Kansas scores five or fewer runs, it holds a mark of 6-20.
ONE-RUN GAMES
Kansas has played 14 contests that have been decided by one run – 29.7 percent of its games played (47). KU has earned a victory in five of the 14 decisions.
WALK IT OUT
Junior catcher Jaxx Groshans took six walks during the weekend series against Texas (May 3-5). Groshans now has a team-leading 39 free passes this season, which surpasses his season-total high of 20 set during the 2017 campaign.
ALL ABOUT SUNDAYS
One of the mantra’s around the Kansas baseball program is that it is all about Sundays. That is the day where you can either sweep, win or salvage a series and that sentiment holds true this season as the Jayhawks have posted a 8-2 mark in 10 games played on Sunday, including a 5-1 record in Big 12 play. In those 10 contests, KU averages 7.8 runs per game compared to the 5.6 average by its opponents.
JAYHAWK TRAVELERS
The Kansas baseball team spent 31 of the first 42 days of the season on the road after weather forced two home series to be moved to Texas. The season opened on Feb. 15 and the Jayhawks played their first home game Saturday, March 30 against Baylor. In March alone, Kansas spent 22 of 27 days away from Lawrence.
LONGEST ROAD SPAN SINCE 1978
The home opener against Baylor Saturday, March 30 (DH) is the latest the Jayhawks have opened up Hoglund Ballpark since the 1978 season when they played Benedictine College on March 29.
UP NEXT
Kansas returns to Big 12 Conference play when the Jayhawks travel to TCU for their last league road series May 10-12 at Lupton Stadium.
