LAWRECE, Kan. — Kansas took a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth and used five more runs in the eighth to defeat BYU 10-1 on Friday night at Hoglund Ballpark.
“We hung in there and still had chances but the eighth inning got away from us,” said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. “We have to regroup and be tougher at the plate when we come back tomorrow.”
The Cougar bats were unable to heat up with their one run coming on five hits to 10 strikeouts. BYU’s lone run came in the top of the sixth with Parker Goff scoring from third on a Tate Gambill RBI groundout. The Cougars committed an error and left four aboard.
KU took advantage of 10 free bases to plate 10 runs on 14 hits with 16 stranded.
Game Summary
KU opened up a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a pair of RBI doubles. Bryker Hurdsman and Brock Watkins each made RBI-robbing snags to prevent a larger Jayhawk lead in the bottom of the second.
BYU was unable to capitalize on three scoreless innings for KU and fell behind 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth on three Jayhawk hits and a Cougar error. After an errant throw to home allowed a KU runner to score from third on a bunt, the Jayhawks put up their next two runs in the inning on a sacrifice fly and RBI double.
Goff warmed up the Cougar bats with a single to left in the top of the sixth. After taking second and third on successive wild pitches, Goff scored from third on a Gambill RBI groundout. The Goff score cut BYU’s deficit to 5-1 but the Cougars were unable to plate anymore in the inning with two runners stranded.
KU pulled away for good with five runs on five hits in the bottom of the eighth. The Jayhawk barrage and 10-1 lead came on an RBI single, two RBI doubles and a two-RBI homer.
Up Next
The Cougars and Jayhawks face off in the series rubber match on Saturday at 1 p.m. CDT with live coverage on ESPN+ and BYU Radio.