ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Hunter Cranton struck out two in the ninth inning to help earn his seventh save and No. 7 seed Kansas held off sixth-seeded Kansas State 2-1 on Tuesday in the opening game of the Big 12 Tournament.
Kansas (30-21), which is playing in the tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2017-19, avenged last year’s season-ending 7-1 tournament loss to Kansas State to advance to the winner’s bracket. Kansas State (31-23) also continues in the double-elimination tournament.
Kansas broke a tie in the ninth when Lenny Ashby sent a fly ball to the wall, resulting in a triple and Collier Cranford hit a sacrifice fly to bring in pinch runner Sam Hunt.
Cranton struck out the first two batters, then got the previously 3-for-3 Kaelen Culpepper to fly out.
Kansas opened the scoring in the fourth when Ben Hartl hit a solo shot to left center for his 11th homer of the season.
Tigers starter Olson leaves game against Royals after being struck by line drive
Hamas delegation leaves Gaza truce talks in Cairo without deal
Here's one we faked earlier! Portrait of late Queen Elizabeth II with her grandchildren and great
What would open warfare between Israel and Iran look like? How tit
The bodies of 4 men and 2 women were found strangled, piled up in Mexican resort of Acapulco
From the fabulous 'Elvis Dress' to the velvet gown she wore dancing with Travolta
Loosening building products red tape 'good first step'
Thailand welcomes the return of trafficked antiquities from New York's Metropolitan Museum
Dozens of jobs set to be axed at Treasury
Garcia, Winker go deep as Nats end slide, beat struggling Twins 12
Never leave a man behind: Veterans join forces to give British spy a proper send