
Kansas Offense Strikes Early to Secure Series Sweep with 16-0 Victory
2/17/2025 9:26:00 PM | Baseball
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Kansas completed a four-game opening series sweep with a dominant 16-0 shutout victory against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Monday evening at Whataburger Field. Ian Francis, Sawyer Smith and Dariel Osoria all hit home runs for the Jayhawks.
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Kansas now has a 4-0 record to start the year for the first time since the 2014 season. The Jayhawks outscored the Islanders 44-6 in the series and recorded their first four-game series sweep on the road against a Division I opponent since 1978.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
• Kansas busted out for seven runs in the top of the first inning, with all seven coming with two outs. Osoria started the scoring with an RBI infield single. Counsell came up with the bases loaded and provided three more runs with a bloop double into right field. Then, the Jayhawks hit back-to-back home runs with Francis connecting on a two-run shot and Smith sending one out to right field.
• KU added one more run to make it 8-0 in the second inning on a wild pitch that scored Tommy Barth.
• The fourth inning was another big one for the Jayhawks as they put up five runs. Osoria blasted a three-run homer into the bullpen in left-center field and Smith had a two-run single up the middle.
• The Jayhawks tacked on one more run in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Osoria drove in Ty Wisdom on a fielder's choice in the fifth. Barth hit a sacrifice fly to score Michael Brooks in the sixth. Brooks then hit an RBI single in the seventh to wrap up the scoring at 16-0.
• Cooper Moore made his first career start and pitched five strong scoreless innings. He did not allow a walk and struck out four. Brigden Parker, Dalton Smith and Robbie Knowles finished off the final two innings to secure the shutout.
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PITCHERS OF RECORD
Win: Cooper Moore (1-0)
Final line: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO
Loss: Cam Soliz (0-2)
Final line: 1.0 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 0 SO
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PLAYER OF THE GAME
Dariel Osoria: A junior transfer from Western Oklahoma State College, Osoria finished the game with five RBIs. He hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning, drove in the first run of the game by hustling to first on an infield single and brought in another run with a fielder's choice. Osoria led the team with a .467 batting average opening weekend.
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SOCIAL POST OF THE GAME
QUOTABLES & NOTABLES
"I think we did a really good job with the strike zone all weekend. We ended up with nine walks and four punchouts tonight. That was kind of the theme of all four games. We had more walks and hit by pitches than strikeouts and a bunch of extra-base hits tied in. I thought we drove the ball well today. Sawyer had a big night and he went back-to-back on home runs with Ian Francis and Dariel hit one later. I think the key to the game was we ended up scoring seven runs with two outs in the first inning. I think we did a really good job with two strikes. Sometimes walks are because a pitching staff loses command and other times it is because the batters do a really good job of forcing deep counts all the time. I thought our guys did a great job of that tonight." – Head Coach Dan Fitzgerald
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"What really went well this weekend was trying to keep the approach simple. I tried to come up in certain opportunities for the team and come in clutch in those situations. I was really excited about the home run. I saw the ball go up and knew I had it. It was straight emotions of excitement going through my mind right there. It felt pretty good having my first home run as a Jayhawk." – Dariel Osoria
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"I think it was just all of us just being locked in and winning each pitch. We weren't looking forward or taking a pitch for granted. We were focused on winning every pitch and staying locked in throughout the game. It was awesome to hit my first home run. It was nice to get the first one and just be able to help the team out. It was really exciting." – Sawyer Smith
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• Kansas has started the season 4-0 for the first time since 2014 when the Jayhawks started 9-0.
• Kansas has recorded a shutout in consecutive games for the first time since May 14, 2021 when the Jayhawks swept a doubleheader against Kansas State.
• Kansas completed its first four-game series sweep since March 1-3, 2024 vs. Texas Southern. The last time Kansas had a four-game sweep on the road was Feb. 1-3, 2007 at Hawaii-Hilo. It is the first four-game series sweep on the road against a Division I opponent since April 14-15, 1978 at Iowa State.
• Kansas improved to 10-4 all-time at Whataburger Field.
• Francis, Osoria and Smith all hit their first home runs of the season.
• Francis and Smith hit the first back-to-back home runs since Janson Reeder and Michael Brooks vs. No. 3 TCU on March 9, 2024.
• Osoria finished with five RBIs.
• Moore made his first career start and earned the win.
• Smith was the first Jayhawk this season with a three-hit game. He finished 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored.
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UP NEXT
Kansas will continue its season-opening seven-game, 13-day road trip with a three-game series at Tarleton State. The series in Stephenville, Texas, will begin on Friday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. CT.
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Kansas now has a 4-0 record to start the year for the first time since the 2014 season. The Jayhawks outscored the Islanders 44-6 in the series and recorded their first four-game series sweep on the road against a Division I opponent since 1978.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
• Kansas busted out for seven runs in the top of the first inning, with all seven coming with two outs. Osoria started the scoring with an RBI infield single. Counsell came up with the bases loaded and provided three more runs with a bloop double into right field. Then, the Jayhawks hit back-to-back home runs with Francis connecting on a two-run shot and Smith sending one out to right field.
• KU added one more run to make it 8-0 in the second inning on a wild pitch that scored Tommy Barth.
• The fourth inning was another big one for the Jayhawks as they put up five runs. Osoria blasted a three-run homer into the bullpen in left-center field and Smith had a two-run single up the middle.
• The Jayhawks tacked on one more run in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Osoria drove in Ty Wisdom on a fielder's choice in the fifth. Barth hit a sacrifice fly to score Michael Brooks in the sixth. Brooks then hit an RBI single in the seventh to wrap up the scoring at 16-0.
• Cooper Moore made his first career start and pitched five strong scoreless innings. He did not allow a walk and struck out four. Brigden Parker, Dalton Smith and Robbie Knowles finished off the final two innings to secure the shutout.
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PITCHERS OF RECORD
Win: Cooper Moore (1-0)
Final line: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO
Loss: Cam Soliz (0-2)
Final line: 1.0 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 0 SO
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PLAYER OF THE GAME
Dariel Osoria: A junior transfer from Western Oklahoma State College, Osoria finished the game with five RBIs. He hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning, drove in the first run of the game by hustling to first on an infield single and brought in another run with a fielder's choice. Osoria led the team with a .467 batting average opening weekend.
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SOCIAL POST OF THE GAME
ÂActually yes, that was a 7-run first inning.
— Kansas Baseball (@KUBaseball) February 17, 2025
MID 1 | Kansas 7, TAMUCC 0
QUOTABLES & NOTABLES
"I think we did a really good job with the strike zone all weekend. We ended up with nine walks and four punchouts tonight. That was kind of the theme of all four games. We had more walks and hit by pitches than strikeouts and a bunch of extra-base hits tied in. I thought we drove the ball well today. Sawyer had a big night and he went back-to-back on home runs with Ian Francis and Dariel hit one later. I think the key to the game was we ended up scoring seven runs with two outs in the first inning. I think we did a really good job with two strikes. Sometimes walks are because a pitching staff loses command and other times it is because the batters do a really good job of forcing deep counts all the time. I thought our guys did a great job of that tonight." – Head Coach Dan Fitzgerald
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"What really went well this weekend was trying to keep the approach simple. I tried to come up in certain opportunities for the team and come in clutch in those situations. I was really excited about the home run. I saw the ball go up and knew I had it. It was straight emotions of excitement going through my mind right there. It felt pretty good having my first home run as a Jayhawk." – Dariel Osoria
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"I think it was just all of us just being locked in and winning each pitch. We weren't looking forward or taking a pitch for granted. We were focused on winning every pitch and staying locked in throughout the game. It was awesome to hit my first home run. It was nice to get the first one and just be able to help the team out. It was really exciting." – Sawyer Smith
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• Kansas has started the season 4-0 for the first time since 2014 when the Jayhawks started 9-0.
• Kansas has recorded a shutout in consecutive games for the first time since May 14, 2021 when the Jayhawks swept a doubleheader against Kansas State.
• Kansas completed its first four-game series sweep since March 1-3, 2024 vs. Texas Southern. The last time Kansas had a four-game sweep on the road was Feb. 1-3, 2007 at Hawaii-Hilo. It is the first four-game series sweep on the road against a Division I opponent since April 14-15, 1978 at Iowa State.
• Kansas improved to 10-4 all-time at Whataburger Field.
• Francis, Osoria and Smith all hit their first home runs of the season.
• Francis and Smith hit the first back-to-back home runs since Janson Reeder and Michael Brooks vs. No. 3 TCU on March 9, 2024.
• Osoria finished with five RBIs.
• Moore made his first career start and earned the win.
• Smith was the first Jayhawk this season with a three-hit game. He finished 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored.
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UP NEXT
Kansas will continue its season-opening seven-game, 13-day road trip with a three-game series at Tarleton State. The series in Stephenville, Texas, will begin on Friday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. CT.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Moore, Cooper (1-0)
L: Soliz, Cam (0-2)

Batting:
2B: Barth, Tommy 1 ; Counsell, Brady 1
HR: Osoria, Dariel 1 ; Francis, Ian 1 ; Smith, Sawyer 1
RBI: Brooks, Michael 1 ; Barth, Tommy 1 ; Osoria, Dariel 5 ; Counsell, Brady 3 ; Francis, Ian 2 ; Smith, Sawyer 3
SF: Barth, Tommy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brooks, Michael 1 ; Wisdom, Ty 1 ; Barth, Tommy 3 ; Ballinger, Brady 2 ; Osoria, Dariel 2 ; Diggins, Chase 2 ; Koszewski, Mike 1 ; Counsell, Brady 2 ; Francis, Ian 1 ; Smith, Sawyer 1
HBP: Diggins, Chase 1 ; Counsell, Brady 1

Batting:
2B: Sanchez, Cade 1 ; Krowka, Karson 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
Players Mentioned
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