Thanks to a stellar performance from its pitching staff, the Kansas baseball team earned its first series sweep of 2019 and the 500th KU victory for head coach Ritch Price with a 3-1 win over Northern Illinois Saturday afternoon at the Melissa Sports Complex in Melissa, Texas.
The Jayhawks (8-3) relied on seven strong innings from their redshirt freshman Eli Davis (1-1) to complete the sweep. Davis allowed just one unearned run and scattered six hits in the contest, while striking out four batters.
Price then used the rookie combo of lefty Hunter Freese and righty Stone Parker to get through the eighth, before calling to his closer, redshirt sophomore Jonah Ulane (4), to shut the door. The relievers combined to throw two shutout innings and strike out three batters, allowing just one base runner.
Sophomore designated hitter Nolan Metcalf clubbed his first career home run in the fifth inning to give Kansas its final lead.
The Jayhawks travel to Port Charlotte, Fla., for the Snowbird Classic next weekend at the Charlotte Sports Complex.
