Baseball was back at Hoglund Ballpark on Friday afternoon, as Kansas played host to Texas Southern in the Jayhawks 2024 home opener.
After two weeks on the road to open the season, the Jayhawks improved to 4-4 with an 11-2 win over TSU. The win made Kansas 23-5 in home openers in the Big 12 era.
A six-run second inning provided more than enough support for Kansas starting pitcher Reese Dutton, who did not allow an earned run in seven innings and struck out seven batters in the win. Dutton (2-1) has now won back-to-back starts for the Jayhawks.
At the plate, KU junior Luke Leto finished 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs, three runs and two walks. New Mexico transfer Lenny Ashby also went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, a run and two walks.
“I thought that the fans were great," second-year KU coach Dan Fitzgerald said. "They brought a ton of energy and I think our guys fed off it. They were definitely behind Reese out there and he scattered three hits over seven and I thought he was fantastic. Awesome to be home. It was it was a very productive road trip, but the expression ‘there’s no place like home’ really is true because you’re just able to work and get batting practice in beforehand and sleep in your own bed and have your own locker and all that stuff. I know I was fired up to be home and I think they were too.”
The four-game series will continue through the weekend, with two games on Saturday and one more on Sunday.
Here's a look back at some of Friday's action.
Scenes from the Jayhawks' home opener at Hoglund Ballpark on March 1, 2024. [Chance Parker photos]
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