No. 23 Kansas Falls 7-2 in Series Opener Against Cincinnati

Friday, May 2

Lawrence, Kan.

7 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

36-11, 15-7

Cincinnati

25-20, 11-11

Cincinnati

Kansas

No. 23 Kansas Falls 7-2 in Series Opener Against Cincinnati

5/2/2025 10:02:00 PM | Baseball

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 23 Kansas baseball had its nine-game winning streak halted as Cincinnati won the series opener 7-2 on Friday night at Hoglund Ballpark. Cincinnati's Jack Natili hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning. Friday night marked the first weekend series opener that Kansas has lost at home this season.

Dominic Voegele started for Kansas and was in control through the first 7.1 innings, allowing only one run and two hits with eight strikeouts. Voegele retired a stretch of 15 consecutive batters from the second out of the third inning through the first out of the eighth inning. With the top of the Bearcats lineup coming up, back-to-back singles set up Natili for the go-ahead shot.

Despite the loss, Brady Counsell did hit his career-high 12th home run of the season. He drove in both runs for the Jayhawks.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Kansas (36-11, 15-7 Big 12) was able to take an early lead with a run in the first inning. With runners on first and third, Counsell drove in a run on an RBI groundout to give the Jayhawks a 1-0 lead.
• Cincinnati (25-20, 11-11 Big 12) responded right away in the top of the second inning. Dawson Hokuf hit a solo home run down the right field line to tie the game at 1-1.
• The Jayhawks were able to regain the lead in the fourth inning. Counsell smashed a solo homer to left-center field to put Kansas back ahead 2-1.
• With one out in the eighth, Landyn Vidourek and Kerrington Cross each hit singles to put two runners on base for Natili. On the first pitch, Natili drove a ball to right field that went over the fence to give Cincinnati a 4-2 advantage.
• The Jayhawks had the tying run on first base with two outs in the eighth, but a leaping catch by the Cincinnati third baseman on a ball that was bound for the left field corner kept the game at 4-2.
• The Bearcats added three more runs in the ninth inning. Derrick Pitts drove in a run on a sacrifice fly and Vidourek hit a two-run homer to stretch the game to 7-2.
• Kansas loaded the bases in the ninth inning with two outs but was unable to score.

PITCHERS OF RECORD
Win: Nathan Taylor (5-1)
Final line: 8.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 SO
Loss: Dominic Voegele (6-4)
Final line: 7.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 8 SO

SOCIAL POST OF THE GAME

BRADY BOMB ??@BradyCounsell hits his 12th HR of the year to give the Jayhawks the lead!

BOT 4 | Kansas 2, Cincinnati 1 pic.twitter.com/lTQvVayagC
— Kansas Baseball (@KUBaseball) May 3, 2025

QUOTABLES & NOTABLES
"I think Dom was great. Scattered five hits and gave up the one run in the second and then obviously the home run in the eighth, but he was great, struck out eight. I thought his command was really good and his stuff was on. We got them right where we wanted them in the eighth with the leadoff guy. We punched him out and then we get the ground ball to second base into the shift and we misplayed that ball and then base hit, home run. We had ourselves in a good spot and Dom was cruising. His last pitch of the seventh was like 96. We didn't get the timely hit and they did. I thought really good positioning on Counsell. TJ Williams would have come in to score on a double there at first. That guy can score on the double in any park in the world. He got a great jump and if that ball gets by it's tied, but we obviously gave up more runs. Tough loss but that's why it's a series and we'll be back at it tomorrow." – Head Coach Dan Fitzgerald

• Kansas had its nine-game winning streak snapped. The Jayhawks have two nine-game winning streaks this season.
• Kansas suffered its first weekend series opener loss at home this season.
• Kansas dropped its first game of the season when leading after seven innings. The Jayhawks were previously 29-0.
• Kansas has a program-record 86 home runs this year.
• Counsell hit his 12th home run of the season. The 12 home runs are a career high for Counsell. He stretched his hitting streak to eight games.
• Sawyer Smith has reached base safely in each of the last 23 games.
• Dariel Osoria extended his on-base streak to 13 games.
• Jackson Hauge had his 18th multi-hit game of the season.

UP NEXT
Kansas and Cincinnati will play the second of three games on Saturday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.