It was a record-setting performance in more ways than one for the top-seeded Kansas baseball team on Friday.
In addition to winning their first regional game since 2014 — 6-3 over Northeastern — and advancing to the winner’s bracket, where they’ll face No. 2 seed Arkansas at 5 p.m. Saturday night, the Jayhawks got big time performances from a few of their big time players.
Starting pitcher Dom Voegele (6-3) picked up the win and struck out 9 batters over 7 innings of work. That broke his own KU single-season strikeout record (115 and counting) and padded the distance between him and third place on the all-time strikeouts list. Voegele, who currently sits at 286, needs 22 strikeouts before season’s end to pass T.J. Walz for first place on the list.
Tyson LeBlanc made history of his own, smashing his 22nd home run of the season to move him into first place all alone on the KU single-season home run list. His blast put the Jayhawks up 4-1 in the third inning — all four Kansas runs to that point came via the long ball, with Augusto Mungarrieta and Dariel Osoria also going yard — and although Northeastern cut that lead to 4-3 late in the game, some clutch hitting from a handful of Jayhawks helped plate two runs in the eighth to set the stage for closer Boede Rahe to shut the door in the ninth.
LeBlanc’s home run not only did damage to the individual record, but it also set KU’s single-season team record for the second year in a row.
Oh, and the Jayhawks’ big time crowd also did its part, packing Hoglund Ballpark for a record crowd of 3,571 fans, many of which enjoyed the action from the new “Backyard” beyond the left-field fence.
“Amazing crowd,” fourth-year KU coach Dan Fitzgerald said after the victory. “It was unbelievable to see the stadium like that. So many people have worked so hard to make it like that and months of planning. On the baseball side, years of planning for that. It was a special day and we're excited to play tomorrow night."
LeBlanc had never even reached double-digits in home runs in a single season until last year at LSU-Eunice. But that stretch along with the work in terms of strength and conditioning and approach at the plate that he’s done at Kansas helped unlock even more of his power.
Still, he told R1S1 Sports earlier this season that it’s never been about trying to hit home runs for him.
“I wouldn’t say I change anything (on any given at-bat),” he said. “I try to approach every at-bat the same and I’m not going up there trying to hit a game-winning home run.”
That said, he sure doesn’t mind when they come. Especially when they’re of the clutch variety to help his team win a game late. His home run on Friday was early in the game, but a clutch base hit in the eighth helped give KU the cushion they needed to win.
“Unlocking that part this year, being the go-to guy in the 7th through the 9th inning, I think that’s one of the coolest things in baseball,” LeBlanc told R1S1 Sports. “Obviously, you never turn down a home run if it’s in the first inning or the seventh, but that’s where most games are won, in the back half.”
“Late in the season is when it really matters,” he added. “If you’re still that clutch hitter come May and June then that means a lot.”
Clearly, LeBlanc has maintained that pace, and if he keeps it up, these Jayhawks might just be playing for a while longer.
Kansas (43-16) and Arkansas (40-20) will square off at 5 p.m. Saturday at Hoglund Ballpark, with the winner taking at least temporary control of the regional.
Northeastern and Missouri State will face off in an elimination game at Noon, and the winner of that game will play the loser of the KU-Arkansas game at Noon on Sunday in another elimination game.
More of our coverage of the 2026 Kansas baseball team...
• Jayhawks win outright Big 12 title - Putting KU's first ever Big 12 crown in the proper context and perspective
• Stop us if you've heard this one... - Jayhawks validate regular season title by winning school's second ever Big 12 tourney trophy
• Jayhawks draw No. 15 national seed for this weekend's regional at KU - Kansas opens postseason play at Noon on Friday against Northeastern at Hoglund Ballpark
• Meet the Jayhawks - A deeper look at who these guys really are, outside of their baseball stats and stardom
• Hoglund upgrades 20+ years in the making - and they may still be just getting started
• 'It's kids like Josh that create the culture' - As humble as they come & talented too, KU 1st baseman Josh Dykhoff has had a major impact on the Jayhawks' program
• The man behind the mask - What catcher Augie Mungarrieta has meant to KU
• From France to Friday nights - The story of KU pitcher Mathis Nayral
• Coming out of his shell - This season has been so much fun even normally-reserved KU ace Dom Voegele has allowed his emotions to show
• All he does is win - KU shortstop Tyson LeBlanc has done nothing but win in the game of baseball since he started playing and he hasn't slowed down in Lawrence
• Ready and willing - How KU's starting infield set the tone for this team's incredible work ethic
• Red-hot Jayhawks working magic recipe for another memorable run - Juco recruiting, hard work, being incredible teammates, it's all part of the magic that KU coach Dan Fitzgerald has brought to Lawrence
— For tickets to all KU athletic events, visit kuathletics.com
