FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Kansas Jayhawks came from behind to beat the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, 5-3, on Friday night at Swanson Stadium.
Right-hander Ryan Cyr got the starting nod for the Jayhawks and turned in a strong performance for the second straight Friday. He pitched seven innings, striking out four and giving up two runs –one earned – while not walking any batters. He improved to 2-0 on the season in two starts.
Jonah Ulane pitched the final two innings to earn his first save of the season. The win moved Kansas to 3-1 on the young season.
The Jayhawks continued their streak of striking first by scoring in the first inning for the third game in a row. A one-out walk by Dylan Ditzenberger gave the Jayhawks a base runner in the bottom of the first and the Jayhawks’ hottest player stepped up to the plate in Nolan Metcalf. Metcalf, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Week, wasted no time and doubled to right center to score Ditzenberger.
The defending ASUN Champion Liberty Flames have been selected to top the conference in 2021, as the ASUN Preseason Baseball Poll was released this afternoon by the conference office.
Flames senior shortstop Cam Locklear was voted as the ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the ASUN Preseason All-Conference team. First baseman Logan Mathieu, outfielder Gray Betts and pitcher Mason Meyer joined Locklear on the ASUN Preseason All-Conference team. The poll and team is voted on by the ASUN Conference s head baseball coaches.
Liberty garnered the top spot in the poll. The Flames received 73 points and four first place votes. Stetson picked up 69 points and two first place votes in being selected second. FGCU tallied 63 points and three first place votes in being tabbed third.