Late rally can’t boost Jayhawks in loss to Air Force

USAF Academy, Colo. – In a game that featured difficult playing conditions from beginning to end, Kansas was defeated by Air Force, 3-2 Tuesday afternoon at Falcon Field.

Air Force (20-23) got out to an early two-run lead in the bottom of the third inning off of sophomore starting pitcher Steve Washilewski (2-2). The Falcons pushed another run across off of the Kansas (22-21) left-hander in the seventh inning, forcing his exit.

Despite the chilling conditions and waiting through a weather delay, Washilewski delivered a quality start with his six and 1/3 innings, a new career-high. With 79 pitches, he struck out two and walked none.

The Jayhawks’ bats were cold throughout and couldn’t muster run support until the final inning when junior left fielder Brett Vosik hit his second home run of the season. After a pair of runners reached after Vosik, Air Force threw out the tying run at the plate to seal its game one victory.

Colby Wright runs the bases, eventually scoring.

NOTES

  • Kansas starting pitcher Steve Washilewski pitched a career-high six and 1/3 innings against Air Force.
  • Washilewski did not walk a batter–the first time in his career that he accomplished that feat in a starting effort.
  • After going homer-less for more than a season, junior left fielder Brett Vosik has hit two home runs in his last four games.
  • Sophomore pinch hitter Conner VanCleave hit his second double of the season in the ninth inning against the Falcons, driving in a run.

QUOTES
Head coach Ritch Price
On the quality of Kansas’ at-bats…

“We only had one quality at-bat in the first three innings and that was when James Costentino lined the ball to second. One of the things that we preach to our guys is that you have to have a quality at-bat, and you can do that without getting a base hit. We had way too many first-pitch outs and swung at too many breaking balls in the dirt early in the count against the lefty.”

On Steve Washilewski’s performance…

“It was a much better performance today by him. Obviously, he needed it. He hadn’t been quite as good as we had hoped his last three times out, so it was nice to see him bounce back on a really bad day to pitch and pitch well.”

UP NEXT
The Jayhawks will play the second game of their midweek series on Tuesday, May 1 against Air Force. First pitch has been moved up and hour to 1 p.m. (CT).

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