Jayhawks take game one of doubleheader against Jackson State

LAWRENCE, Kan.– A strong pitching performance from sophomore starting pitcher Steve Washilewski (3-2) pushed the Jayhawks past Jackson State, 2-1, in game one of a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark.

Washilewski tossed a career-high six and 2/3 innings, striking out two and allowing one earned run off of four hits. Redshirt-junior Blake Goldsberry shutout the Tigers (29-22) in one and 2/3 innings of relief to earn his third save of the season.

The Jayhawks (27-21) bats were kept quiet, totaling four hits on the afternoon, but a two-run second inning proved the difference maker.

Redshirt-freshman first baseman Dylan Ditzenberger and junior second baseman James Cosentino drove in the Jayhawks’ only two runs, with both coming in the second inning.

Jackson State starting pitcher Nikelle Galatas (7-4) took the loss, throwing eight strong innings and striking out eight batters while allowing four hits and two earned runs.

Kansas Jayhawks

NOTES

  • Redshirt-freshman first baseman Dylan Ditzenberger extended his hitting streak to four games. In that span, he is batting 6-for-12 (.500).
  • Sophomore pitcher Steve Washilewski tossed a career-high six and 2/3 innings against Jackson State. The southpaw gave up only four hits and punched out two batters with one earned run.
  • The Jayhawks have played in six doubleheaders this season (USC Upstate, Texas Southern, Northern Illinois, Baylor, West Virginia, Jackson State). They are 3-3 in the first game of the day.
  • Kansas has played in 15 one-run games this season. In those games, they have a 6-9 record.

QUOTES
Head coach Ritch Price
On Steve Washilewski’s performance…

“He was outstanding. He gave up that run in the first inning and then he settled in and got us into the seventh. When you use your whole bullpen multiple days during the weekend like we did, then we needed him to get deep into the game. The first inning, it didn’t look like it was going to happen but he ended up finding his rhythm, started to command the ball better back in the zone and allowed us to set up and use our bullpen properly. Now our offense has got to score some runs in game two.”

On if he was pleased with his team’s at-bats…

“Not really. I thought we chased too many of the really slow breaking balls out of the zone and got ourselves out. We did hit three balls right on the butt and they could have changed the game but obviously the left fielder made an unbelievable catch. What a great catch by Goldsberry there at the end. If he doesn’t catch that, the ball is a hit, it’s a tie ball game and we are still playing.”

UP NEXT
Kansas will begin the second game of the doubleheader against Jackson State at 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7th.

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