Cosentino, Jayhawks walk off Oklahoma in 10 innings
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Sophomore second baseman James Cosentino erased an 0-for-4 night in the bottom of the 10th inning when he lifted the Kansas baseball team to a 6-5 victory over Oklahoma with one swing of the bat Thursday night at Hoglund Ballpark.
Cosentino put a charge into a 3-2 fastball and sent it deep over the trees in right field to give Kansas (24-27, 7-14 Big 12) its second walk-off win of the season via a home run and complete a four-run comeback to defeat the Sooners (33-20, 13-9 Big 12).
Prior to that at bat, Cosentino had struck out three times against OU pitching, with his only contact coming on a groundout to second base.
Cosentino may have won the game, but it took a serious rally in the bottom of the ninth for Kansas to comeback and send the game into extra innings.
Oklahoma took its first lead of the game in the top of the ninth after Kansas reliever Ryan Cyr allowed four runs to cross. Down, but not out, Kansas answered with a four-spot of their own in the home half of the frame, capped off by the first-career home run for senior first baseman Luke Bakula.
Sophomore catcher Jaxx Groshans started the rally with an infield single and junior left fielder Devin Foyle followed with a double. A two-run single by sophomore designated hitter Brett Vosik cut the Sooner lead to two runs, 5-3, and gave way to Bakula. The righty bat stroked an 0-1 slider into the trees in left field and sent a charge into the Kansas dugout that stuck with Cosentino for the 10th.
That rally solidified a strong outing by junior righty Jackson Goddard, who paced Kansas through seven innings allowing just one run and fanning a season-high 11 batters.
NOTABLES
Double-digit K’s: For the first time since achieving a personal-best 13 strikeouts against Oklahoma State on April 15, 2017, junior righty Jackson Goddard reached double-figures in K’s, finishing the night with a season-best 11 strikeouts in seven innings pitched. Those 11 mark the second-most for a KU pitcher this season as sophomore Ryan Zeferjahn fanned 14 against Texas Southern (March 4).
Walk it off: KU’s walk-off win via the long ball is the second for the Jayhawks this season as redshirt-sophomore Brendt Citta accomplished the same feat in the bottom of the 12th inning against Morehead State (March 29).
Extra, Extra: Kansas’ 10-inning affair against Oklahoma marks the sixth extra-inning game of the season for KU and the third in its last four contests. The Jayhawks hold a record of 3-3 in those six games.
KEY INNINGS
Top of 1st
Oklahoma loaded the bases with one out, but junior righty Jackson Goddard buckled down to get a strikeout and a ground out to get out of the jam.
Bottom of 1st
Junior center fielder Rudy Karre led off with a triple and scored on a RBI-groundout by sophomore catcher Jaxx Groshans to put the Jayhawks up, 1-0.
Top of 3rd
Oklahoma’s Steele Walker hit a two-out home run to tie it up, 1-1.
Bottom of 4th
Kansas gets its first two hitters on, but the rally is killed when redshirt-sophomore right fielder Brendt Citta bunted into a three-five-four double play.
Top of 5th
Oklahoma loads the bases with two outs, but Goddard shuts the door with his ninth strikeout to end the Sooner threat.
Bottom of 5th
OU’s starting pitcher Jake Irvin struck out the side.
Bottom of 8th
Kansas earned a lead-off walk, but a bad bunt by sophomore shortstop Benjamin Sems rolled straight to the third baseman and enabled him to get the lead runner at second base.
Top of 9th
Kansas reliever Ryan Cyr issued a lead-off walk, who came around to score on a two-out double by OU’s Cade Harris. That lead-off walk moved into scoring position via a sacrifice bunt. Then, after a two-out walk, Oklahoma’s Steele Walker hit a three-run home run to increase OU’s lead, 5-1.
Bottom of 9th
The Jayhawks answer with a four-spot of their own after a single by Jaxx Groshans, double by Devin Foyle, two-run single by Brett Vosik and a two-run home run by Luke Bakula to make it 5-5.
Bottom of 10th
Sophomore second baseman James Cosentino erased an 0-for-4 night featuring three strikeouts when he hit a walk-off bomb – his sixth of the season.
UP NEXT
Kansas goes for the series victory over the Sooners Friday, May 18 with a 6 p.m. first pitch. Fans can watch the game live on the Jayhawk Television Network or on ESPN3 outside the coverage area. The game is also available on the dial on KCTE and streaming live at KUAthletics.com/Radio.
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