Kansas Walks Off Omaha in Thriller to Remain Undefeated

Thursday, February 27

Lawrence, Kan.

3 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

8-0

Omaha

2-6

Omaha

Kansas

Kansas Walks Off Omaha in Thriller to Remain Undefeated

2/27/2025 8:13:00 PM | Baseball

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Trailing by two runs going into the bottom of the ninth, Kansas scored six runs to defeat Omaha, 12-8, in walk-off fashion in the home opener at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday. Senior Chase Diggins hit a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth and junior Dariel Osoria crushed a walk-off grand slam to win it.

Kansas improved to 8-0 on the season, which is the team's best start since 2014. The Jayhawks trailed from the top of the sixth until the bottom of the ninth when Diggins and Osoria came up with clutch at-bats. KU sent six hitters to the plate in the bottom of the ninth and all of them scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• After a scoreless first inning for both sides, Kansas broke through first with two runs in the second inning. With two outs, Diggins singled and then senior Brady Counsell came up and hit a two-run homer to left field for a 2-0 Kansas lead.
• Omaha (2-6) answered back in the top of the third with a pair of RBI doubles by Tyler Bishop and Mason Gaines. That tied the game at 2-2.
• Sophomore Brady Ballinger would help the Jayhawks take the lead back in the bottom of the third with an RBI double off the wall to score Osoria. The run gave Kansas a 3-2 lead.
• The Mavericks responded in the top of the fifth with two runs to take a 4-3 lead. One run scored on an RBI groundout and the other came in on a fielding error.
• Ballinger's next at-bat came in the bottom of the fifth and he sent one over the center field wall for a solo homer. The home run was the third of the season for Ballinger and tied the game at 4-4.
• Omaha would quickly respond in the top of the sixth with two more runs. Henry Zipay hit a solo homer and a second run scored on a throwing error. That put the Mavericks back ahead 6-4.
• KU was able to get one of the runs back in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI fielder's choice by Counsell to cut the game to 6-5.
• The Mavericks were able to score two more runs in the top of the seventh. Jackson Trout hit a two-run single to extend the lead to 8-5.
• Kansas loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning but was unable to score.
• The Jayhawks loaded the bases again in the eighth and this time senior Tommy Barth was able to draw a walk to make it 8-6.
• In the ninth, Kansas was able to take the lead for good. Michael Brooks led off the inning with a walk and then Diggins delivered his game-tying two-run homer. After two hit by pitches and an intentional walk, Osoria stepped up to the plate and demolished a ball into the night sky to end the game.

PITCHERS OF RECORD
Win: Malakai Vetock (2-0)
Final line: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO
Loss: Reed Scott (0-1)
Final line: 0.0 IP, 0 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 0 SO

PLAYER OF THE GAME
Chase Diggins: Diggins hit the game-tying home run in the ninth and finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. He also moved defensively to play catcher in the ninth inning where he threw out an Omaha runner attempting to advance to third base. It was his first time playing catcher in a game since little league.

SOCIAL POST OF THE GAME

ROCK CHALK WALK OFF GRAND SLAM FOR DARIEL OSORIA ??????#RockChalk pic.twitter.com/Iy4OOhmfEZ
— Kansas Baseball (@KUBaseball) February 28, 2025

QUOTABLES & NOTABLES
"Great game, first and foremost. I love the fight and I love how competitive our guys were against a really good Omaha team. This is a really good offensive team that we're playing and we knew that coming in and they did a really nice job. We obviously had chances throughout the game that we didn't capitalize on, but I thought we did a really good job of just fighting to the end. I'm super proud of the effort and how they competed." – Head Coach Dan Fitzgerald

"I'll do anything that the team needs me to do. We've got a great group of guys here. Very loaded which is why sometimes it's important to fill in roles that you normally wouldn't do otherwise. I'm just happy to be in there and be able to contribute. It's a never give up approach. We didn't play good baseball at all through three hours or eight innings. As a team, we didn't play as best that we could have, but it's a never give up approach." – Chase Diggins

"Never give up. We're always willing to fight to the end. Coach Fitz always gives us a good pep talk, especially down in that last inning. He said, 'Come on guys, I know you got it. Keep fighting and go do this right now.'" – Dariel Osoria

• Kansas has started the season 8-0 for the first time since 2014 when the Jayhawks started 9-0. The program record is 10 consecutive wins to start a season (2002).
• Kansas is 24-5 in home openers over the last 29 seasons since joining the Big 12 prior to the 1997 season.
• Kansas has hit four home runs in back-to-back games.
• Kansas had its first walk-off home run since Cole Elvis vs. Air Force on April 19, 2023. The walk-off win is the first since Ben Hartl vs. Texas Tech on April 26, 2024.
• Osoria hit his second home run of the season. He finished 3-for-6 with four RBIs and two runs scored.
• Ballinger launched his third home run of the year.
• Diggins and Counsell each hit their first long ball this season.

UP NEXT
Kansas and Omaha will play game two of the four-game series on Friday at Hoglund Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+, along with live audio available on the Jayhawk Sports Network.