Rainy Evening Awaits Struggling Tommies at Hoglund Ballpark

LAWRENCE, Kan. (Interstat) — The Saint Thomas Tommies, mired in an eight-game skid, face a daunting task under the lights Thursday against the Kansas Jayhawks at Hoglund Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for the evening amid a forecast of 48-degree temperatures and rain.

Saint Thomas (1-8) arrives after being swept in a four-game series at New Mexico, including a 7-3 loss Sunday. The Tommies’ lone win came Feb. 20 at Lindenwood. A bright spot in the recent defeat was reliever Will Pierro, who tossed two hitless, scoreless innings. He is a player to watch for a pitching staff seeking stability.

Kansas (7-4) enters with momentum after securing an 8-3 road victory at Minnesota on Sunday. The Jayhawks’ bullpen shined in that win, notably Madden Seidl, who struck out five over 3 2/3 innings. Seidl has not allowed a hit over his last 7 2/3 innings of work across two appearances, emerging as a key arm.

The teams are set for a four-game series this weekend, with games also scheduled Friday and Sunday in Lawrence and a neutral-site contest Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 7-1 victory for Kansas.

For Saint Thomas, the schedule offers little respite after this series, with a road game at Iowa next Tuesday before continuing a lengthy season-opening road trip. Kansas will hit the road next week for a midweek game at TCU before opening Big 12 Conference play at Texas Tech next weekend.