Groshans, Jayhawks blast past Texas Southern
MELISSA, Texas – Backed by the second multi-home run game of the season by junior catcher Jaxx Groshans, the Kansas baseball team defeated Texas Southern, 7-1, Friday afternoon at the Melissa Sports Complex.
Groshans belted two, two-run bombs – one in the first and one in the seventh – to give the Jayhawks (3-2) more than enough run support to tame the Tigers (0-5).
Those two home runs coupled with strong pitching performances from junior righty Ryan Zeferjahn and redshirt-junior right hander Blake Goldsberry (2-1) paced Kansas to its third victory on the season.
Zeferjahn started and pitched four innings before a weather delay forced his early exit after he allowed just one hit and struck out five batters in 62 pitches. Goldsberry came on after the 43-minute halt and pitched the next three innings to earn the win.
Three different Jayhawks boasted multi-hit efforts. Junior shortstop Benjamin Sems led the way with a perfect 3-for-3 effort, while junior second baseman James Cosentino and Groshans collected two of their own.
NOTABLES
- Junior catcher Jaxx Groshans posted his second multi-home run game of the season – the last time Kansas had someone record more than one multi-home run game in a season came in 2009 when Tony Thompson (3) and David Narodowski (2) accomplished the same feat.
- Redshirt-senior reliever Ryan Ralston made his first appearance since the May 20, 2016 (1,008 days or two years, nine months and two days) – he missed all of 2017 and 2018 with injuries.
- Junior shortstop Benjamin Sems tied a career-high three hits, including a double and two singles.
- Freshman infielder Jack Wagner made his collegiate debut as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning.
QUOTES
Head coach Ritch Price
On the toughness of his players:
“I was really proud of the toughness our team showed. We had a 10-hour bus ride yesterday. Then you get off the bus today and it’s raining and its cold, the wind is hitting you in the face. Our guys grinded and it ends up being a really well played baseball game.”
On Groshans’ approach:
“When Groshans stays in the middle of the diamond, he is a really tough out. He is capable of being an impact guy if he continues to swing the bat like that.”
UP NEXT
With the postponement of the second game of Friday’s doubleheader, the Jayhawks and Tigers will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. at the Melissa Sports Complex. Both games can be heard on the Jayhawk Radio Network via KUAthletics.com/Radio.
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