The Huskers did not go down without a fight. Trailing 9-2, Nebraska pushed across three runs in the eighth. Kodiak Quick looked like he had everything in control for Kansas in the 9th, retiring the first two batters, but the Huskers lined four straight singles to make it 9-7 and coach Ritch Price brought in closer Don Czyz with the tying run on base.

Czyz got Jake Opitz to ground to first for his 18th save, and the Jayhawks dogpiled on the Bricktown Ballpark infield grass.

What a great story.

Kansas doesn’t have many great memories in Big 12 baseball. Since the Big 12’s inception in 1997, the Jayhawks have a cumulative conference record of 85-194. Their best conference season? 13-14 this year. Before this season, they had never won a Big 12 Tournament game, only qualifying twice and going 0-4. This year they’ve gone 4-0, and never trailed in any game. And most importantly, they’re the Big 12 Tournament champs and they’ve played their way off the bubble and into an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. It will be a fun bus ride back to Lawrence.

All-Tournament Team:
1B – Smart, Tech
2B – Price, KU
3B – Morrison, KU
SS – Weems, Baylor
OF – Fortenberry, Baylor
OF – Stubbs, UT
OF – Baty, KU
DH – Hunter, UT
SP – Scherzer, Mizzou
SP – Kasparek, UT
RP – Jensen, Nebraska

MVP – Baty, Kansas

I’ve had a great week here. This stadium is fantastic, the baseball has been thrilling, and we’ve had ZERO thunderstorms. The Big 12 Tournament. Five stars. Joe Bob sez check it out.