Kansas Baseball Sweeps McNeese State

Jayhawks pitching leads the way in three-game series victory

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Kansas baseball team improved to 5-2 on the season after sweeping McNeese State over the weekend. The Jayhawks never trailed in the series and got strong performances from their starting pitchers, including Mathis Nayral and Dominic Voegele. Offensively, left fielder Brady Ballinger had a big series, going 7-for-15 with five RBIs, two doubles, and three runs scored.

Why it matters

The series sweep over McNeese State continues Kansas' strong start to the season and builds momentum heading into a big four-game series against the 5-1 Minnesota Gophers this week. The Jayhawks' pitching staff appears to be rounding into form after some early struggles, which will be crucial as they face tougher competition in the coming weeks.

The details

Kansas won the first game of the series on Friday 11-2, the second on Saturday 8-2, and completed the sweep with a 6-1 victory in game three. The Jayhawks' starting rotation was the key, allowing just four earned runs over 15 innings pitched. Mathis Nayral had another strong outing, allowing one earned run on four hits over five innings, while Dominic Voegele bounced back from a rough season opener to pick up the win in the series opener.

  • The Kansas baseball team won its first eight games last year.
  • Kansas never trailed at any point against the Cowboys.
  • The Jayhawks and Gophers are scheduled for a four-game series, with game one set for Wednesday at 6 p.m. (CT).

The players

Mathis Nayral

The Jayhawks' starting pitcher who allowed just one earned run on four hits over five innings in his second start of the season.

Dominic Voegele

The Jayhawks' right-handed starting pitcher who picked up his first win of the season, allowing two runs on two hits over six innings in the series opener.

Brady Ballinger

The Jayhawks' left fielder who had a big series, going 7-for-15 with five RBIs, two doubles, and three runs scored.

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What’s next

The Jayhawks' first big test is this week against the 5-1 Minnesota Gophers. The two teams are scheduled for a four-game series, with game one set for Wednesday at 6 p.m. (CT).

The takeaway

Kansas' pitching staff appears to be rounding into form after some early struggles, which will be crucial as they face tougher competition like Minnesota in the coming weeks. The Jayhawks' offense, led by standout performances from Brady Ballinger, also continues to produce, making them a formidable opponent for any team they face.