Cyr's complete-game shutout hooks 'Horns
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Backed by a complete-game shutout by starter Ryan Cyr, the Kansas baseball team held off Texas for a 1-0 victory Saturday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark.
Cyr (3-6) coasted his way to his fourth complete game of the season and third in as many starts, giving up two hits and striking out six batsmen in the process. The righty shut down the Longhorns’ (25-24, 6-13 Big 12) offense throughout the entire contest and protected the Jayhawks’ (25-21, 7-10 Big 12) one-run lead.
That lead came in the bottom of the first inning where Kansas showcased its small-ball ability. Junior Brett Vosik smacked a single up the middle to drive in senior Rudy Karre from second base after he led off the game with a base knock.
Redshirt-freshman Dylan Ditzenberger led all Jayhawks with a 2-for-3 performance and junior Jaxx Groshans went 1-for-2 with two walks and his first triple of the season.
NOTES
- Junior starting pitcher Ryan Cyr’s complete game marks his fourth of the season, his third in a row, and is his first complete game shut out of his career.
- Cyr’s complete game shut out is the first since Ben Krauth shut out North Dakota on March 11, 2016.
- Junior catcher Jaxx Groshans recorded his first triple of the season.
- Today’s contest marks the 14th one-run game that the Jayhawks have played this year and their record is now 5-9 in them.
- Kansas has now won three out of the last four series played against Texas at Hoglund Ballpark.
- Today’s game lasted one hour and 47 minutes, marking the fastest nine-inning game the Jayhawks played since May 17, 2012, when Frank Duncan pitched a complete game shutout, 1-0, against Missouri in exactly the same time.
QUOTES
Head coach Ritch Price
On if that was the best he has seen Ryan Cyr pitch…
“Without question. He is one of the best competitors I’ve ever coached. We needed his best effort today to find a way to beat a big time guy, 1-0.”
On the first two games motivating the team for the series finale…
“Obviously, (Sunday) is a huge day. They talk about doing something special two times during the Big 12 and you can have a great year. If you find a way to sweep one of the best teams in the country, they’ve been struggling here the last month, but they were top 50 in the country some time this year. We’ve got our hands full tomorrow, they’re going to go out there and fight for their season tomorrow just like we have fought for ours the past two days.”
On Cyr’s passion affecting the team…
“They feed off of it. His intensity level is off the charts with how competitive he is and you can feel the energy when he is pitching. He also pitches with great rhythm, he gets the baseball, gets on the mound, throws it, and it’s a pleasure play behind him defensively.”
On winning three games in a row…
“I think our pitching has been really good the past couple of days and if you’re going to win a series against that kind of pitching, you have to match them zero-for-zero and both of their starters gave us two great efforts.”
Redshirt-junior starting pitcher Ryan Cyr
On this being his first complete game resulting in a victory…
“It felt great. We had a nice crowd today, we haven’t got that in a while, and that set the tone all day, the fans. I just went out there trying to fill up the zone and guys were giving me contact, that’s what won the game.”
On if he is starting to hit a groove heading into the end of the season…
“I feel like I am. I struggled a little bit in the beginning but it’s a game of failure. You just have to relax and see what you did wrong and learn from it. That’s something I did a really good job of was really preparing myself and I feel like I’m mentally there right now.”
On relying on his passion to drive his performance…
“When I get passionate like that, it’s when we’re winning, when we’re playing good, we have energy and fans. It just came out today. I tried not to do it but today was juts such a special day that it had to come out.”
UP NEXT
The Jayhawks look to sweep the Longhorns in the series finale on Sunday, May 5 at 1 p.m.
