Kansas Jayhawks Baseball Series Preview: Belmont Bruins

Dan Fitzgerald's squad will look to continue their hot start in Nashville this weekend.

The Kansas Jayhawks are off to a hot start, beginning the season with two series wins and a record of 5-2. This weekend, they head back on the road to Nashville, Tennessee for a three-game series against the Belmont Bruins. With the bats heating up and the pitching staff off to a great start, the Jayhawks will look to continue building momentum before their home opener and then conference play.

Here are some things I'm looking to see from the Jayhawks in this series:

Can the offense capitalize on opportunities?

The Kansas Jayhawks' offensive production exploded in the series against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. The offense as a unit is hitting .269/.875/.502. What is more impressive is the extra-base hits. Out of 227 at-bats, Kansas has 61 hits, with 18 being doubles, one triple, and 11 home runs. This type of production at the plate has also resulted in 51 team RBIs. On February 26th, the Jayhawks managed to score 26 runs, which is the most runs in a game since March 28th, 1997. In the same game, the Jayhawks hit seven home runs which tied a program record set in 1984. The Jayhawks will now head to Tennessee to take on a struggling Belmont Bruins pitching staff.

Offense showed out 🔥

Kansas tied a program record with 7 home runs and scored its most runs in a game since 1997. pic.twitter.com/0kRlKMECZI

— Kansas Baseball (@KUBaseball) February 26, 2023

The Bruins' pitching staff is sporting a 5.59 earned run average in 74 innings pitched, although their WHIP is above the average at 1.69. They have walked an abysmal 49 opposing hitters, have 10 HBP, and 14 wild pitches. This type of production plays right into the Jayhawk hitters. Kansas has walked 33 times and has posted seven HBP. Luke Leto has posted some tremendous numbers at the plate posting a .304/.609/.429, slash line with seven hits resulting in one double, two home runs, and six RBIs. More importantly, Leto has five walks so far this season.

Building on pitching success

The Kansas Jayhawks' pitching staff, led by three main starters consisting of Collin Baumgartner, Sam Ireland, and Hunter Cranton, have started six games, pitching 29.2 innings with a record of 4-1. They are the workhorses of this staff and will need to continue to build consistent outings as they prepare for the Big 12 conference. The Jayhawks' pitching as a whole, has posted a 3.71 earned run average in 63 innings pitched. So far this season, their opponents have a .182 batting average resulting in 26 earned runs. As the Jayhawks look to continue building on consistent pitching they face a Belmont Bruins offense that has posted a .240/.413/.304 slash line.

Defense wins ball games 👏

Our .992 fielding percentage is currently 7th in the nation. pic.twitter.com/d7oxUris3V

— Kansas Baseball (@KUBaseball) March 1, 2023

Sam Kirkpatrick is a name to remember for the Bruins. Kirkpatrick is currently hitting .455/.606/.471 in nine games. In 33 at-bats he has 15 hits, two doubles, one home run, and six RBIs. To counter this hot hitter, the Kansas Jayhawks will deploy one of their best pitchers statistically in Gavin Brasosky. Brasosky has pitched in three games logging 8.2 innings, facing 26 batters, and recording two saves. He has been very good on the mound, only surrendering two hits, three walks, and zero runs. Opponents are only hitting .077 against him, as he sports a 0.61 WHIP. 

UP NEXT: Kansas plays a three-game series at Belmont beginning on Friday at 4 p.m. CT.#RockChalk pic.twitter.com/ew9A6etWKx

— Kansas Baseball (@KUBaseball) February 27, 2023

The first of a three-game series against the Belmont Bruins starts on Friday, March 3rd, at 4:00 PM CST.  

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