KANSAS

Kansas Baseball Takes Opening Series vs UTRGV

Kansas baseball left off right where it did a year ago after taking two of three from UTRGV to begin the season.
Jared Shlensky|
Sep 28, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of logo placement before a game between the Kansas Jayhawks and TCU Horned Frogs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Sep 28, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of logo placement before a game between the Kansas Jayhawks and TCU Horned Frogs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Dan Fitzgerald led the Kansas baseball program to new heights last year -- most conference wins in a season, most conference series wins, most conference series sweeps, etc. -- and the skipper was rewarded with a six-year contract extension back in June.

However, the 2026 season didn't start the way the Jayhawks wanted after dropping their season opener on Friday to Texas- Rio Grande Valley. But KU quickly bounced back with wins on Saturday and Sunday to claim the opening series.

After losing Game 1 7-4, Kansas evened the series with a 10-3 victory in Game 2 and an 8-7 win in Game 3.

Kansas bats start hot

The Kansas bats played a pivotal role in the Jayhawks winning 43 games and making the NCAA Tournament last year, and they played an even bigger role in KU winning its opening series.

But over the weekend, it was a pair of transfers -- Jordan Bach and Cade Baldridge -- who carried the offense. Bach went 7-for-12 in the series with a home run and a team-best five runs, and looks like an everyday player for KU.

Meanwhile, Baldridge finished the series with five hits, including two doubles and a home run, and looks like a guy who isn't going to hit in the 9-hole too much longer. Baldridge batted ninth and started in center field for all three games, and definitely established himself in his first Division 1 Series.

Jayhawks pitching has room to grow

The Jayhawks pitching staff did just enough to hold down the UTRGV bats, but if KU is going to be as good as it was a year ago, someone has to establish itself as the go-to guy atop the rotation. In fact, KU's best pitcher over the weekend was "reliever" Mathis Nayral.

Nayral didn't technically start game two, but let's be honest, it was a start. Neyral allowed just one run on two hits over seven innings and struck out. And maybe more importantly, he didn't allow a walk.

Expect the France native and Cochise College transfer to start the next game he appears in and potentially move his way up to the top of the Jayhawks' starting rotation.

KU's bullpen was by far better than its starting staff, but I'm not convinced the Jayhawks know what they have at the back end. A lot of guys pitched out of the bullpen for Kansas, and don't be surprised if a few more guys get a chance to pitch out of the 'pen moving forward.

Next game

The Jayhawks next game is on Wednesday against Lamar. First pitch from Vincint-Beck Stadium in Beaumont, Texas, is at 6:05 p.m. (CT) and is viewable via ESPN+.

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Jared Shlensky
JARED SHLENSKY

Jared Shlensky is a contributing writer for On SI and a freelance play-by-play broadcaster. Jared was previously a sports betting writer for Yardbarker, an On-Air YouTube Personality for the Sports Geek and a minor league play-by-play broadcaster

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