Despite the way it may end, the Kansas Jayhawks baseball program has had its most impressive season in club history.
Few coaches in the sport can turn around a program as reliably and as quickly as head coach Dan Fitzgerald. Thanks to Fitzgerald, the Jayhawks have already broken several season records and gotten to host their first-ever Super Regional after a staggering upset when Oklahoma took down the No. 2 overall Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Yet, despite walking in as natural favorites, the Jayhawks have struggled inside Hoglund Ballpark and are innings away from being eliminated from a trip to the College World Series.
It started with an 8-1 loss on Saturday night. A complete 180° switch from the 24 runs they put up in the three games in the regional round.
“We talk on a daily basis about having to persevere and deal with things, and you just run straight to the fire, and that's what we need to do tomorrow,” quoted Fitzgerald after Saturday’s loss. “And it's pretty clear now it's just win or go home.”
While allowing a slew of runs while notching only four hits can make a vibrant move desolate, Kansas is no stranger to having to make a comeback. Take a look at their last game in the regional, a 13-10 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks. Against the SEC side, the Jayhawks fell behind by five runs before storming back.
However, Sunday did not prove to be much better.
Kansas thumped before rain saves the day
By the bottom of the third inning, Kansas fell behind 8-1, thanks to a six-run second inning. Yet, action was ceased thanks to inclement weather that has pushed the game until Monday afternoon.
The game will start with Sooner Kyle Branch at plate with a 3-1 count at the bottom of the third.
⛈️ GAME SUSPENDED ⛈️
— Kansas Baseball (@KUBaseball) June 8, 2026
Tonight's game has been suspended. We will provide a start time for tomorrow when it's determined. pic.twitter.com/ANIwLOPXTo
What can the Jayhawks do to turn things around?
The Jayhawks have been incredibly patient as a team this season. It is rare to see Fitzgerald’s side look flustered on either side. If it wasn’t thanks to their elite vision at the plate, they wouldn’t have written themselves into folklore. So Jayhawk faithful should know that this is a team that needs just a couple of hits to begin to trim this lead down.
Kansas’ biggest problems, though, come on the mound. Starting pitcher Mason Cook was replaced by redshirt junior Boede Rahe. Rahe will have to turn things around immediately to stop the bleeding. Something that is easier said than done against a Sooner squad that has notched a stellar 54 runs over the last 39 innings.
Even if the Jayhawks complete the miracle and turn this game around, they will get little reprieve, as they will have to play the Sooners again soon after in the deciding match. Worst case, the Jayhawks’ season ends with Kansas finishing with 45 wins, along with several All-Big 12 nominees, with Fitzgerald winning back-to-back Big 12 Coach Of The Year Awards.
The matchup is set to resume at 12 p.m. CT with streaming available on ESPN2.
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