The Kansas Jayhawks’ baseball season came crashing down over a period of just 18 innings.
Since the regular season finished, the Jayhawks had won six games in a row. In those six games, the Jayhawks wiped through the Big 12 Tournament, which included a resounding 9-0 win over the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Big 12 title matchup. It also saw the Jayhawks go undefeated through their region in this season’s NCAA Tournament with two big wins over No. 21 RPI Arkansas.
Thanks to some luck from Oklahoma’s upset over the No. 2 overall Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, KU was also handed Super Regional hosting duties in what could have been Kansas’ first ever trip to the College World Series.
Then those 18 innings happened.
From out No. 1, Kansas couldn’t find any momentum. Any time KU would squeak out a solid plate appearance or a good half on defense, the Sooners would barrel in with a stellar defensive stand or a multi-run inning that kept the Jayhawks well at bay.
Through the course of the two losses to the Sooners, Kansas notched just eight hits. For reference, KU allowed 24, a perfect microcosm for the last few days for the Big 12 champs.
Two poor games shouldn’t ruin the exceptional season the Jayhawks managed
While it will take some time for the Jayhawk faithful to get over the paltry end of the season, there is no doubt that head coach Dan Fitzgerald has established himself as one of the country’s best minds. What makes things even more impressive is the manner in which Fitzgerald turned Kansas from mediocrity to Super Regional hosts.
Despite the ever-changing rosters and pickups through the community college system. The 2026 KU team has been defined by camaraderie and brotherhood. Something players have been harping on all season long.
“I think it's a big part of Coach Fitz and the culture that he's brought here. I think him preaching for all of us to be great teammates. It's been an incredible improvement for all of us, 'cause my freshman year, compared to now, like, our team chemistry is way better than what it was,” quoted pitcher Dominic Voegele following Monday’s season-capping loss.
Fitzgerald was brought in before the 2023 season and since then has churned out records of 25-32, 31-23, 43-17 and 45-18, with back-to-back Big 12 Coach of the Year Awards following suit.
“And for us just bringing eight guys back from last year's team, the way that we've come, it's been pretty cool.”
The Jayhawks comprise 27 transfers, making it extremely hard to configure such a bond, but through the highs and the lows of the season, Fitzgerald’s effort to glue the squad together has led to highs of two win streaks of 10+ wins, along with an outstanding 20-11 record away from home and three series that started with losses. Ultimately, 2026 ended on a low, but with Fitzgerald with the program, Kansas is definitely in the right hands for a potential College World Series birth.
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