Kansas Jayhawks upend Arkansas Razorbacks, 5-3, in regional baseball thriller
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas advanced to 2-0 in the Lawrence regional with a 5-3 win over Arkansas.
- Tyson LeBlanc hit a two-run game-tying homer; Tyson Owens drew the walk that won it.
- Boede Rahe recorded a six-out save for the second consecutive day.
The Kansas Jayhawks baseball team is one victory away from a spot in the NCAA Tournament super regionals.
The Jayhawks followed Friday’s 6-3 victory over Northeastern with a thrilling 5-3 decision over Arkansas on Saturday, ending the day the only undefeated squad in the Lawrence regional at Hoglund Ballpark.
KU’s Tyson LeBlanc blasted a game-tying two-run home run, while relief specialist Boede Rahe pitched two scoreless innings for a six-out save for the second straight day as the Jayhawks won a game started by first-team all-SEC selection Hunter Dietz of Arkansas.
The victory pushed KU’s record to 2-0 in the regional and assured the Jayhawks of a spot in the (first) championship game Sunday against either Northeastern or Arkansas, teams than are 1-1 in the tourney and must meet in an elimination game set for a noon start.
KU would be crowned regional champs if it wins that 5 p.m. title game against the Northeastern-Arkansas winner. If KU loses the 5 p.m. game, it would need to play a second title game on Monday at a yet to be determined time.
Arkansas’ ace starter Dietz allowed three runs on five hits with a career high 14 strikeouts in 6 and 1/3 innings on Saturday against the Jayhawks.
The sophomore, who allowed a two-out, two-run game-tying home run to LeBlanc in the fifth, appeared to run out of steam in the bottom of the seventh inning.
With the game tied 3-3, KU’s Daniel Osoria walked, followed by a strike out of Brady Ballinger. Dylan Schlotterback rapped a single, Osoria advancing to second.
At that point, Dietz was replaced by reliever James DeCremer. He threw a wild pitch that moved the runners to second and third with one out. KU slugger LeBlanc was put on base via intentional walk.
The strategy of filling the bases backfired as Tyson Owens plated what turned out to be the game-winning run by drawing a walk.
Arkansas then inserted reliever Cole Gibler with the bases loaded and still one out. Gibler struck out Cade Baldridge. The threat ended as Josh Dykhoff’s deep fly ball to left field was caught on the warning track.
KU scored an insurance run on a homer by Augusto Mungarrieta in the eighth.
Mason Cook, KU’s No. 2 starter behind regional game-one winner Dominic Voegele, allowed three runs off three hits in 4 and 2/3 innings, leaving the game down 3-1.
He was chased in the Razorbacks’ two-run fifth inning.
Arkansas’ Carter Ruterbar drew a two-out walk, followed by a mammoth home run to center field by Reese Robinett. It was Robinett’s second home run of the season.
KU answered with two of its own in the bottom of the fifth frame. Brady Ballinger drew a one-out walk and came around to score on a blast over the left-field fence by LeBlanc. It was the junior’s 23rd home run of the season.
Dietz, a sophomore, did not work the Razorbacks’ 9-5 game-one win over Missouri State on Friday. He was saved for game two against the host Jayhawks.
