The Kansas baseball team is continuing its trek to its best season ever after a region-opening 6-3 win over Northeastern on Friday afternoon.
No, things weren’t perfect, and there were moments where the newly renovated Hoglund Park was holding its breath as KU held a narrow 4-3 lead inside the bottom of the eighth before two timely runs capped things off.
But thanks to Tyson LeBlanc and pitcher Dominic Voegele, the Jayhawks are able to enter Saturday’s matchup 1-0, with the pair also being able to claim two new records for a team that has reached 43 wins, tying the program’s second-most wins in a single season.
Voegele keeps ice in his veins through opening regional fixture
The Huskies did a brilliant job of consistently putting Voegele under pressure, having put together four straight innings from the top of the third to the top of the sixth, where the lead-off Huskie was able to get on base in situations that included a home run, single, double and a triple.
In most situations, even the nation’s elite pitchers would have seen theri confidence shaken; however, Voegele kept calm and instead punched nine strikeouts to just three runs allowed, setting the program record for strikeouts in the process at 117.
LeBlanc picks up where he left off in home run tally
All season long, LeBlanc has established himself as one of the nation’s best hitters. LeBlanc’s 21 home runs ranked No. 5 in the Big 12, and his string of six home runs over the last nine games was rightfully capped off thanks to a 400-foot shot out of the park that gave Kansas a crucial 4-1 lead in the bottom of the third.
“It was an awesome feeling,” quoted LeBlanc postgame as the junior broke the single-season school record at 22. LeBlanc’s home run also gave the Jayhawks their 105th homer this season, breaking last season’s record, while also adding 2 RBI on the night.
“Super proud of the two guys in front of me that hit home runs as well. It was an awesome feeling to be able to go out there and compete and put some runs on the board early. [I] Stuck to my approach that's been working and put a good swing on it.”
Dan Fitzgerald praises the pair after the stubborn win
“It's really rewarding to watch your players climb to the top of lists like that,” quoted Fitzgerald, who in his own right is compiling one of the country’s best resumes, having led a three-year turnaround of the Jayhawks that was almost unforeseen at KU.
“I mean season punchouts, and then single-season home runs. Like, those are monster numbers that usually stand for a while. So, it couldn't happen to two better teammates, two better workers, two better Jayhawks. So, yeah, incredibly proud of both of them. And proud that they're they're the 1st 2 to give credit to their teammates and just awesome, humble guys.”
Next up for the Jayhawks is a matchup on Saturday night either against the Arkansas Razorbacks or the Missouri State Bears. The two teams are each currently ranked inside the top 25 RPI in the country. Kansas’ opponents will be revealed later Friday evening as the winner of the Arkansas/Missouri State matchup will face KU Saturday.
More Kansas News
Add us as a preferred source on Google