For the sixth time in program history, the Kansas Jayhawks (43-15) are playing in an NCAA Regional Tournament and will be the No. 2 seed in this weekend's Fayetteville Regional at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The Jayhawks are in Field of 64 for the first time since 2014 and will square off against the 3-seeded Creighton Bluejays in the first round. In 43 all-time meetings between Creighton and Kansas, the Bluejays boast a 25-18 advantage but the Jayhawks have taken the past six matchups.
RELATED: Creighton Scouting Report
Led by Big 12 Coach of the Year Dan Fitzgerald, who is in his third season with the Jayhawks and the first coach in program history to win that award, Kansas is the nation's lone team with 43 overall wins, 20 conference wins and 20 true road victories on its resume. The 20 conference wins are a school record, while the 43 overall victories are tied for second-most in program history.
As a 2-seed in the Big 12 Tournament, Kansas earned a first round bye and slipped past Oklahoma State 7-6 in the quarterfinals before getting run-ruled 11-1 in eight innings by TCU in the semifinal round. Kansas had won six straight games prior to the loss to TCU.
A very experienced squad with eight every day players who have at least 48 starts, the Jayhawks lead the Big 12 in on-base percentage (.410), home runs (100), runs batted in (446) and walks (363).
They are headlined by first-team All-Big 12 first baseman Brady Ballinger, along with outfielder Jackson Hauge, right-handed pitcher Cooper Moore and designated hitter Dariel Osoria, who were each named to the second team. Third baseman Brady Counsell was tabbed Honorable Mention All-Big 12.
The Jayhawks have two players on their roster who should be familiar to Razorback fans in third baseman Michael Brooks and catcher Max Soliz Jr. Soliz has appeared in 13 games with nine starts, while Brooks has appeared in all 58 games with 56 starts.
Kansas and Creighton will play the second game of the Fayetteville Regional's first round Friday at 7 p.m. CT at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville. The game will be streamed live on ESPN-Plus.
Below is a comparison of Arkansas and Kansas' metrics and stats – assuming they face off – as well as a look the projected starting lineup and noteworthy pitchers for the Bluejays.
RELATED: North Dakota State Scouting Report
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Kansas Projected Starting Lineup
1. CF Derek Cerda – Junior, 6'1", 190 pounds
2025 stats: .277/.409/.487, 49 GP, 195 AB, 54 H, 51 R, 12 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 29 RBI, 36 BB, 45 K, 10 SB
2. 1B Brady Ballinger – Sophomore, 6'2", 220 pounds
2025 stats: .363/.507/.693, 56 GP, 215 AB, 78 H, 70 R, 21 2B, 1 3B, 16 HR, 56 RBI, 56 BB, 43 K
3. RF Jackson Hauge – Senior, 6'1", 220 pounds
2025 stats: .296/.387/.600, 57 GP, 230 AB, 68 H, 45 R, 13 2B, 19 HR, 68 RBI, 32 BB, 55 K
4. 3B Brady Counsell – Senior, 6'3", 210 pounds
2025 stats: .263/.382/.484, 58 GP, 213 AB, 56 H, 53 R, 11 2B, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 35 BB, 35 K, 5 SB
5. DH Dariel Osoria – Junior, 6'0", 190 pounds
2025 stats: .330/.427/.538, 50 GP, 197 AB, 65 H, 43 R, 13 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 46 RBI, 29 BB, 43 K
6. 2B Michael Brooks – Senior, 5'11", 190 pounds
2025 stats: .271/.418/.468, 58 GP, 203 AB, 55 H, 46 R, 11 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 38 RBI, 53 BB, 42 K, 2 SB
7. SS Sawyer Smith – Senior, 6'3", 210 pounds
2025 stats: .286/.393/.482, 58 GP, 199 AB, 57 H, 38 R, 10 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 43 RBI, 25 BB, 56 K
8. LF Tommy Barth – Senior, 6'0", 195 pounds
2025 stats: .274/.387/.437, 56 GP, 54 H, 42 R, 9 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 39 RBI, 37 BB, 45 K, 5 SB
9. C Ian Francis – Senior, 6'1", 205 pounds
2025 stats: .259/.387/.441, 52 GP, 143 AB, 37 H, 24 R, 6 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 30 RBI, 22 BB, 41 K
UTL Chase Diggins – Senior, 6'0", 175 pounds
2025 stats: .269/.375/.412, 51 GP, 119 AB, 32 H, 23 R, 2 2B, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 19 BB, 19 K, 1 SB
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Kansas Noteworthy Pitchers
RHP Dominic Voegele – Sophomore, 6'2", 200 pounds
2025 stats: 15 APP, 15 GS, 7-4 W/L, 91 IP, 84 H, 55 R, 54 ER, 32 BB, 84 K, .247 BAA, 5.34 ERA
RHP Cooper Moore – Sophomore, 6'1", 200 pounds
2025 stats: 14 APP, 13 GS, 7-2 W/L, 83.2 IP, 83 H, 38 R, 35 ER, 17 BB, 78 K, .257 BAA, 3.76 ERA
RHP Kannon Carr – Junior, 6'0", 190 pounds
2025 stats: 18 APP, 10 GS, 5-1 W/L, 55 IP, 52 H, 32 R, 27 ER, 28 BB, 50 K, .252 BAA, 4.42 ERA
RHP Alex Breckheimer – Junior, 6'5", 270 pounds
2025 stats: 32 APP, 5-0 W/L, 45 IP, 42 H, 19 R, 19 ER, 12 BB, 48 K, .255 BAA, 3.80 ERA
