The Kansas Jayhawks baseball team represents the

University of Kansas The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. Tw ...

and competes in the

Big 12 Conference The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference headquartered in Irving, Texas, USA. It consists of ten full-member universities. It is a member of Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for all sports. Its ...

NCAA Division I NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest level of College athletics, intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major ...

History

Baseball has been played at the University of Kansas since 1880. In 1993, Kansas had arguably its best season to date. That year the Jayhawks went to the 1993 College World Series in Omaha, NE. This was their first, and so far, only CWS appearance. The Jayhawks were led by All-Americans

Jeff Berblinger Jeffrey James Berblinger (born November 19, 1970) is an American former Major League Baseball second baseman. Jeff is a 1989 graduate of Goddard High School in Goddard, Kansas. He played one season at the major league level for the St. Louis Car ...

, Jeff Neimeier and Jimmy Walker into the Mideast Regional in Knoxville, Tenn. After losing their first game to Fresno State, 7–4, the Jayhawks rebounded against host Tennessee for a 3–2 win. Jayhawk Freshman Jamie Splittorff, son of former Kansas City Royal Paul Splittorff, got the win for KU going 8 innings. KU then trounced Rutgers, 8–2, and Clemson, 9–1, to set up the all important re-match with Fresno State. Jayhawk coach Dave Bingham turned to Walker, who had been a reliever all season for KU, to start the Regional Final. Walker didn't disappoint as he pitched a complete game and the Jayhawks won in 10 innings, with some late game magic. Down 2–1 in the bottom of the ninth with one out, Berblinger tripled. One out later, Berblinger scored on Josh Igou's infield hit to force extra innings. In the tenth, Brent Wilhelm scored on Darryl Monroe's hot shot to short stop. Once in Omaha the joy was short-lived, as the Jayhawks lost to Texas A&M, and then Long Beach State for an early exit. The Jayhawks returned to the Regionals in 1994, earning a bid to the Atlantic II Regional in Tallahassee, Fla. The Jayhawks would once again find themselves in a regional in the 2006 NCAA Division I baseball tournament after winning the 2006 Big 12 baseball tournament. That year KU traveled to Corvallis, Oregon for the Corvallis Regional. KU went 1–2 and did not advance. The Jayhawks made the 2009 NCAA Division I baseball tournament as a 3 seed in the Chapel Hill Regional and went 2–2. They went 1–1 against 2-seed

Coastal Carolina Coastal Carolina University (CCU or Coastal) is a public university in Conway, South Carolina. Founded in 1954 as Coastal Carolina Junior College, and later joining the University of South Carolina System as USC Coastal Carolina, it became an in ...

, defeated 4-seed Dartmouth, and were finally knocked out by 1-seed and regional winner

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

in the last game of the regional. In

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...

, the Jayhawks made their 5th NCAA tournament appearance, but were eliminated after finishing 1–2 in the Louisville Regional.

First team All-Americans

*1954 – John Trombold, OF (ABCA) *1980 – Matt Gundelfinger, DH (ABCA) *1993 – Jeff Berblinger, 2B (

NCBWA The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) is an association of baseball writers, broadcasters, and publicists in the United States. It was founded in 1962. The NCBWA compiles a preseason ranking of the top 35 teams in the natio ...

) *1996 – Josh Kliner, 2B (ABCA, Baseball America) *2006 – Don Czyz, P (NCBWA)

MLB players

Current

* Sam Freeman, Pitcher,

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...

Mike Zagurski Michael Justin Zagurski (born January 27, 1983), is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Yank ...

, Relief pitcher, Yokohoma DeNA Baystars *

Wes Benjamin Wesley Scott Benjamin (born July 26, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the KT Wiz of the KBO League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers. Amateur career Benjamin attended St. Charles East High ...

, Pitcher, Texas Rangers Source: Kansas Jayhawks in Pro Ball
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Former

References

2009 Kansas Baseball Quick FactsKansas Baseball History

External links

* {{Big12Baseball