KU wins its first Big 12 tournament

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Until this year, Kansas had never won a game in the Big 12 baseball tournament.

The Jayhawks are now the tournament champions behind the pitching of brothers Nick and Don Czyz after holding off a late Nebraska rally and beating the Cornhuskers 9-7 Sunday at Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City.

Kansas (42-23) had been 0-4 in its previous tournament appearances, but defeated Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Missouri and Nebraska behind solid pitching.

The No. 14 Cornhuskers (42-15) scored five runs in the final two innings off Jayhawk senior Kodiak Quick, including two runs after two were out and no one was on base in the bottom of the ninth. Quick was making his first relief appearance of the season.

Kansas brought in Don Czyz, the NCAA saves leader, who picked up his 18th save by getting Nebraska's Jake Opitz to ground out to first base for the final out, then was tackled by teammates in celebration.