Jayhawks continue road trip at St. John's

at ST. JOHN’s
March 15-17
2 PM, 1 PM, 11 AM
Queens, N.Y.
Jack Kaiser Stadium
ESPN3
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Game Notes

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas baseball team puts its nine-game winning streak to the test with a three-game series at Jack Kaiser Stadium against St. John’s March 15-17.

The Jayhawks (13-3) make the return trip to Queens, New York after sweeping the Red Storm (4-9) at Hoglund Ballpark in 2018.
 
Fans can watch all three games of the series on ESPN3. In addition, the contests can be heard on the Jayhawk Radio Network via KUAthletics.com/Radio with Nick Springer calling the action.
 
QUICK HITS

• Kansas’ all-time record: 1,925-1,846-18
• Head coach Ritch Price’s record in Division I: 722-691-4
• Price’s record at Kansas: 505-463-3
• All-time record in March: 506-411-4
• Kansas travels to St. John’s (March 15-17) for a return series after the Red Storm made the trek to Lawrence in 2018.
• The Jayhawks hold a record of 3-0 against St. John’s in the Ritch Priceera after sweeping the 2018 series at Hoglund Ballpark.
• During that three-game set, KU (6.3) averaged 3.0 runs per game more compared to that of SJU (3.3)
• The 2019 Jayhawks score an average of 6.6 runs per contest while their opponents plate just 4.0 per game.
• Due to the inclement weather this spring, Kansas will play its first 24 games of the season away from Hoglund Ballpark – that ranks as the most contests away from home to open up a season in program history.
• As a result, the Jayhawks’ first home contest will not come until March 29 against Baylor.
• Twenty-four of the Jayhawks’ 56 games slated for 2019 will be against 2018 NCAA Tournament teams, including six against squads that advanced to the College World Series.

UNDEFEATED IN MARCH
Kansas holds a perfect 8-0 record in the month of March. During the month, the Jayhawks have outscored their opponents 54-24 and batted .280. Even more impressive, all three of KU’s starting pitchers have recorded an ERA of 3.00 or better with two coming in under 2.00.

NINE IN A ROW
The Jayhawks are on a nine-game winning streak – its longest since also winning nine in a row to start the 2014 season (Feb. 14 – Feb. 28). During the streak, Kansas averages 6.1 runs per game compared to its opponents that score at rate of 2.7. In addition, KU has hit 22 extra-base hits during those nine contests while its opponents have hit just eight. The last time Kansas won 10 games in a row came during the first 10 contests of the 2002 season.

PERFECT AT THE PLATE
Junior left fielder Brett Vosik enjoyed a perfect 5-for-5 effort at the dish against Central Connecticut State in the Snowbird Classic (March 12). He became the first Jayhawk to record five hits in five sequential at bats since then-junior left fielder Michael Suiter accomplished the same feat vs. Missouri State (April 23, 2014). Vosik finished the day with four singles, a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.

THE SAVIOUR
Redshirt-sophomore Jonah Ulane continues to embrace his role as the Jayhawks’ closer. The righty has racked up a Big 12-leading six saves on the season in eight appearances and ranks fourth nationally in the same category. In addition, Ulane has faced 35 batters and struck out more than half of them (18).

THE PRICE IS RIGHT
With the sweep over Northern Illinois (March 1-2), head coach Ritch Price reached the 500-win mark as the Jayhawks’ skipper. Price is already the all-time winningest coach in program history with 62 more victories than legendary head coach Floyd Temple (438).

BRING OUT THE BROOMS
Kansas earned its first three-game series sweep over an opponent since March 9-11, 2018 when the Jayhawks swept then-No. 20 St. John’s at Hoglund Ballpark, when the squad took three-straight from Northern Illinois (March 1-2) in Grand Prairie and Melissa, Texas.

LONG RELIEF
Redshirt-junior reliever Blake Goldsberry turned in one of the best relief performances as of late when he retired 12-straight Northern Illinois (March 1) hitters to pick up the four-inning save. Goldsberry faced the minimum in his 45-pitch effort where he recorded two strikeouts in the process.

BACK ON THE FIELD
Redshirt-senior reliever Ryan Ralston made his first appearance on the mound since May 20, 2016 (1,008 days or two years, nine months and two days) when he toed the rubber against Texas Southern (Feb. 22). Ralston missed all of 2017 and 2018 with injuries.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
After a three-home run performance opening weekend, junior catcher Jaxx Groshans was named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week (Feb. 18). Groshans reached base seven times in 13 plate appearances, including four hits and three walks during the first three games of the Jayhawks’ season-opening series at USC Upstate. Groshans finished with a league-best three homers and six RBIs in those three contests, while batting .400 (4-for-10). In addition, Groshans scored the second-most runs in the conference on the weekend at four. In the Monday finale, Groshans batted 1-for-1 with a single and a RBI while drawing a career-high three walks. He is the first Kansas Big 12 Player of the Week since 2013 when Michael Suiter earned the same distinction (March 11).

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Junior righty Ryan Zeferjahn became the first Kansas baseball player to earn a Preseason All-America Team recognition from Baseball America when the publication announced he landed on its third team. Zeferjahn was one of 42 players from around the country representing 35 different schools to be honored.

PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12
Junior right-handed pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn earned his second preseason recognition when the league’s coaches voted him to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team. The team consists of 18 players from across the conference with Zeferjahn earning one of the six pitching spots.

PRICE NAMES 2019 CAPTAINS
Head coach Ritch Price announced that James Cosentino, Ryan Cyr and Rudy Karre will represent the 2019 squad as captains. The trio is each holding the honor of captain for the first time in their careers and represents what the Kansas baseball program is all about.

THE DEAN OF BIG 12 BASEBALL
Kansas head coach Ritch Price is the most tenured skipper in the Big 12 Conference as he has coached in 404 league games – 260 more than any other current coach.

1. 404 – Ritch Price, Kansas (17th season)
2. 144 – Tim Tadlock, Texas Tech (Seventh season)
3. 142 – Jim Schlossnagle, TCU (Seventh Season)
4. 140 – Randy Maze, West Virginia (Seventh Season)
5. 139 – Josh Holliday, Oklahoma State (Seventh Season)

FOUR DRAFTED IN 2018
The Jayhawks saw four players get their names called in the 2018 MLB Draft: righty Jackson Goddard, third round, Arizona Diamondbacks; closer Zack Leban, 12th round, Miami Marlins; Devin Foyle, 17th round, Oakland Athletics; and Brendt Citta, 38th round, Pittsburgh Pirates. In addition, Owen Taylor signed a free agent contract with the Colorado Rockies.

UP NEXT
The Jayhawks travel to Wichita State (March 20) for a midweek contest before continuing south to Oklahoma for a three-game series against the Sooners (March 22-24).

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