Kansas earns Sunday win at TCU

FORT WORTH, Texas – Backed by strong performances from five different pitchers, the Kansas baseball team capitalized on a pair of TCU miscues to salvage the weekend, 3-1, Sunday afternoon at Lupton Stadium.

Sophomore lefty Steve Washilewski started on the bump for the Jayhawks (28-24, 9-12 Big 12) and tossed four and 1/3 innings of one-run ball. Four different relievers combined to throw the final four and 2/3 innings, shutting out the Horned Frogs (28-21, 10-11 Big 12).

Redshirt-senior Ryan Ralston (4-of-5), sophomore Daniel Hegarty (1-of-1), freshman Stone Parker (2-of-2) and junior Nathan Barry (7-of-8) retired 14 of the final 16 TCU hitters of the game to seal up the victory.

Barry’s two and 1/3 scoreless innings pitched earned him his fifth win on the season.

Kansas relied on a three-hit performance from sophomore shortstop Skyler Messinger, who led all batters with two runs scored, to jumpstart its offense. Freshman right fielder Casey Burnham (1-for-4) knocked in one of those runs, while redshirt-freshman third baseman Dylan Ditzenberger drew a walk and scored in the ninth.

Kansas Jayhawks

NOTES

  • The Jayhawks need just one more conference win or a Texas Big 12 loss to solidify their spot in the Big 12 Championship.
  • Kansas now holds a record of 9-2 in games played on Sundays, including a 6-1 mark in conference play.
  • KU has won the last six-straight Sunday games.
  • Freshman Jack Wagner started his first-career Big 12 contest, notching his first hit in league play.
  • Sophomore lefty Steve Washilewski made his first-career Big 12 start on the bump.

QUOTES
Head coach Ritch Price
On Kansas’ pitching performance..

“That’s one of the best efforts we’ve had from a pitching staff in the 17 years I’ve been here. Without Eli Davis, who won five starts in a row on Sunday, and run Washilewski back after he pitched on Tuesday night, I can’t say enough about our bullpen. Ryan Ralston comes in and gives us a quality inning, Hegarty comes in and gets a huge left-handed hitter out, Stone Parker gets two guys out and sets the table for Nathan Barry. It was one of the best team wins that I’ve been a part of.”

On the importance of salvaging a game in the series…

“We knew we were going to have to use four or five guys out of the pen today. For us to win today without two or three regular starters out there with TCU being as hot as they were, I really respect the resiliency of this team. We’ve got great chemistry and great character out of those men in that dugout.”

UP NEXT
Kansas returns to action May 17-19 at Hoglund Ballpark when the Jayhawks play host to in-state rival Kansas State on Senior Weekend.

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