Preview: Struggling Tommies Aim to Avoid Sweep Against Hot Jayhawks

LAWRENCE, Kan. (Interstat) — The Saint Thomas Tommies will look to salvage the finale of a four-game series when they face the Kansas Jayhawks on Sunday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark.

The Tommies (1-11) have dropped the first three contests of the set, including a 9-8 heartbreaker on Saturday. They have lost eight straight games overall. Kansas (10-4) has won seven of its last eight and can complete the series sweep.

A bright spot for Saint Thomas has been pitcher Owen Marsolek, who is expected to start Sunday. In his last outing, he threw five scoreless innings of relief against these same Jayhawks on Saturday, allowing no hits and striking out three. Over his last three appearances, spanning 19 1/3 innings, he has surrendered just six earned runs.

Kansas shortstop Tyson LeBlanc has been a primary catalyst in the series, going 4 for 11 (.364) with a home run and three RBIs over the first three games. In Saturday’s win, he went 2 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs.

The teams have played tight games, with two decided by two runs or fewer, but the Jayhawks’ offense has consistently found late answers. Kansas is averaging eight runs per game in the series.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Kansas is projected to win 7-1 on Sunday.

Following the series, Saint Thomas travels to face Iowa on Tuesday. Kansas hits the road for a matchup at TCU on Tuesday before opening Big 12 play at Texas Tech next weekend.