Houston baseball swept at Kansas, falls to 1-5 in Big 12 play

Houston baseball’s search for its first Big 12 series win of the season still seeks to be accomplished, as it suffered its first sweep of the season to Kansas at Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence March 20-22.

In a weekend defined by offensive prowess, the Jayhawks outscored the Cougars 29-22 across 25 innings. Kansas also showcased its ability in the clutch, with nine of its runs in the series coming in the eighth inning or later.

Kansas outduels Houston in opening slugfest

In a game that saw a combined 25 hits, three home runs and 22 runs scored, Kansas beat Houston 12-10 to take the series-opener Friday in a heavy offensive affair full of exchanged blows.

The Cougars took an early 6-1 lead going into the bottom of the third inning, with senior infielder Antonelli Savattere batting in three runs. 

But in answering with an offensive explosion of their own, the Jayhawks scored nine runs between the third and fourth innings to take a 10-6 lead.

Houston fought back in the top of the sixth, as redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez and freshman outfielder Blake Fields clubbed a two-run home run and an RBI double, respectively, to cut Kansas’ lead to one at 10-9.

Senior infielder Tyler Cox added an RBI double in the top of the eighth to tie it 10-10.

But junior infielder Tyson LeBlanc came in clutch for Kansas in the home frame, launching a go-ahead two-run homer to right to give the Jayhawks a 12-10 lead. 

The Cougars attempted to keep the game alive down to their final two outs with the tying runs on first and second, but Kansas’ efforts held firm. 

Redshirt junior pitcher Boede Rahe earned the win for the Jayhawks to move to 4-0. In 3 ⅓ innings in relief, he struck out six batters while giving up four hits, an earned run and three walks.

At the plate, junior outfielder Brady Ballinger led Kansas in going 2-for-3 with a home run and four runs scored.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Connor Udland suffered his first loss of the season for Houston, falling to 1-1. In 4 ⅓  innings, he struck out six batters while giving up three earned runs on four hits and two walks.

On the offensive end, Perez and Fields each went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Owens’ walk-off infield single clinches series for Kansas

In the bottom of the ninth, with two outs and runners in scoring position, sophomore outfielder Tyson Owens hit an infield single to the left side, allowing LeBlanc to reach home and give the Jayhawks a walk-off 9-8 win on Saturday for the series.

Despite early home runs from LeBlanc and Owens for the Jayhawks, the Cougars held a 5-4 lead after five innings thanks to junior outfielder Tre Broussard’s RBI double, an RBI single by Perez and junior catcher Riley Jackson’s two-run home run to left.

In the top of the eighth, junior designated hitter Easton Winfield launched his first home run of the season for Houston, a solo shot deep to left to make it 6-4.

But in the bottom of the eighth, with one out, Owens clubbed a go-ahead grand slam deep to center field for his second homer of the game to give Kansas an 8-6 lead.

In the top of the ninth, Broussard responded with a two-run homer to deep right field, the Cougars’ third home run of the game, tying it 8-8. 

But the Jayhawks’ clutch factor kicked in once again, as back-to-back singles from LeBlanc and junior infielder Cade Baldridge helped set up Owen’s walk-off infield single in the home ninth.

For Kansas, senior right-handed pitcher Kannon Carr got the win to move to 2-0. In his lone inning of relief, he struck out two batters while giving up two hits, two earned runs and a walk.

Owens was the main man at the plate for the Jayhawks with his 4-for-5, 8-RBI performance. In addition, LeBlanc went 3-for-4 with a home run and four runs scored

For Houston, senior right-handed pitcher Tyler Bryan suffered the loss to fall to 1-2. In ⅔ of an inning, he struck out one batter while giving up three hits and the walk-off single to Owens.

Offensively, Broussard went 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs.

Jayhawks’ four-run eighth completes sweep of Houston

Having already won the series, the Jayhawks put the final nail in the Cougars’ coffin on Sunday, winning the series finale 8-4 for the sweep.

Despite not having the same level of offense as the previous games, the finale provided plenty of action along the lines.

Kansas took a 4-3 lead after the first four innings, with Ballinger’s sacrifice fly and Baldridge’s RBI double in the bottom of the third. 

In contrast, Cox drove in two runs in the top of the second and fourth innings, while senior infielder Cade Climie scored off a fielding error in the outfield for Houston.

After no scores between the fifth and seventh innings, the Cougars tied it at the top of the eighth when pinch-running freshman outfielder Peyton Dickens stole home on a double-steal.

But the Jayhawks’ prowess in the clutch showed once again in the home eighth, when senior infielder Josh Dykhoff clubbed a go-ahead solo home run to give them a 5-4 lead. 

Following three consecutive two-out walks to load the bases, Baldridge came through with a bases-clearing double to make it 8-4.

Houston tried to attempt a comeback in the top of the ninth, but nothing sufficed.

Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Manning West got the win for the Jayhawks to move to 2-0. In 1 ⅓ innings in relief, he struck out three batters while allowing just one hit.

Offensively, Dykhoff went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and his eighth-inning homer, while Ballinger and Baldridge combined for seven RBIs.

For the Cougars, junior right-handed pitcher Jackson Baker was handed his first loss of the season, from allowing the go-ahead eighth-inning homer to Dykoff.

At the plate, Cox went 3-for-5 with two RBIs.

The Cougars, now 12-11 overall, will look to end their four-game losing streak in a big matchup at Schroeder Park on Tuesday, March 28th, when they host No. 2 Texas at 6:30 p.m.