Kansas Baseball Takes Series From Nebraska

The football team didn't really do a great job, but the basketball team and now the baseball team have given Nebraska losses in their sendoff from the Big 12. On Friday it was the top of the order that was the star of the show, collecting 8 of Kansas's 9 hits, all of them singles. On the mound, TJ Walz had another good day, going 6 innings and allowing only 1 earned run. He also struck out 6 while walking only two.

On Saturday, Kansas suffered its lone setback of the series, as Kansas scored only two runs despite 10 hits. Zac Elgie was 2-5 and had both of the RBIs. Tanner Poppe was ok on the hill, lasting 6.1 innings, allowing all 4 Nebraska runs (2 earned). He only struck out 3 but he only walked 1 as well.

Yesterday I made it out to the park, braving the heat, and watched an offensive onslaught as Kansas beat Nebraska 11-5. Kansas had 10 hits, including two homers, one each from Jason Brunansky and Jimmy Waters. Casey Lytle was also 2-2 and hit his 7th double of the year. Alex Cox got his first win of the year despite giving up 5 runs in 5 innings. Frank Duncan and Colton Murray combined to throw 4 scoreless.

The series win moves Kansas into 5th in the Big 12, and they are just half a game behind Oklahoma for fourth. If I were the college baseball version of Joe Lunardi (which, first of all, would be ESPN's worst hire ever) I would say that Kansas is still on the wrong end of the bubble, but they are sneaking towards it and if they end up finishing in fourth I think they will end up making the NCAA tournament, pending Big 12 tournament results. In any event, it will be a meaningful final month or so of the season for the Jayhawks.

And speaking of the Big 12 standings, you have to go down a ways, but if you do make it to the bottom, you will find some school called Missouri.