photograph by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World
Kansas pitcher Boede Rahe celebrates throughout a recreation in opposition to Arkansas on Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Lawrence.
Even earlier than Kansas kicked off the first-ever Lawrence Regional, pitcher Boede Rahe promised that KU was going to play the very same means it had all season — which might in flip imply that Rahe himself would convey the identical degree of fireside to his nearer function.
Through two days of the regional, Rahe’s feelings have certainly been on show, in giant half as a result of KU’s offense has set him up for a pair of six-out save conditions in which he has confirmed fairly profitable: one in Friday’s 6-3 victory over Northeastern and one other in Saturday’s 5-3 win over Arkansas.
He simply may need set off the hearth slightly early on Saturday, elevating his arms to the sky with a fist pump and some extent to the KU crowd after Tyson LeBlanc’s throw beat Maika Niu to first base. That would have been advantageous, besides that Arkansas challenged the ruling that Niu was out, making for a clumsy lull
The name was confirmed in quick order anyway, although, and he bought to rejoice a second time.
“I think I got a little bit of my excitement out when the first call went through, and I had to maintain my composure and hold it for a little bit, but I was pretty confident that Tyson’s arm got him out,” Rahe stated.
He stated he didn’t trouble throwing any warmup pitches whereas ready, such was his degree of confidence in the results of the evaluation.
In any case, Rahe’s 4 scoreless, hitless innings are one of many large the explanation why KU now finds itself on the point of rising from Lawrence with a first-ever journey to the tremendous regional spherical. He labored round a uncommon stroll and wild pitch that introduced one Razorback runner to second base in the eighth, then retired three straight in the ninth. And he achieved that whereas throwing a mixed 68 pitches over the course of back-to-back days.
That’s nothing new for the redshirt junior from Marion, Iowa, and Kirkwood Community College, who threw on consecutive days this 12 months in collection in opposition to UCF, Kansas State, Arizona, West Virginia and BYU. Only as soon as, nevertheless, did he exceed 68 pitches, when he did actually one higher with 69 throughout his three-inning and a one-inning look versus UCF in April 10 and 11.
All the whereas, he has excelled. The first-team all-conference choice has struck out 71 batters whereas issuing simply 17 walks this 12 months, and his ERA is down to 3.67. He’s put up zeroes in 9 of his final 11 appearances with a handful of saves alongside the way in which. KU even tried him out as a starter earlier in the 12 months for a pair weeks in the wake of 1 stretched-out aid look earlier than in the end deeming him extra precious out of the pen.
“I wouldn’t even call myself a starter or a reliever,” Rahe stated. “I just go out there and get the three outs in front of me. That’s my role every single time I go out there.”
Head coach Dan Fitzgerald has ceaselessly stated that Rahe tells him each day that he’s prepared to pitch.
“I think just with it being postseason baseball,” Rahe stated on Satuday, “I should want to pitch in every single game that comes about.”
Could “every single game” embrace Friday’s motion, with a visit to the regional ultimate at stake? Rahe has by no means pitched on three straight days at KU or at Kirkwood (the place he began as a sophomore), and Fitzgerald by no means threw Alex Breckheimer or Hunter Cranton greater than two days in a row in current seasons. Chances are that with relievers like Kannon Carr, Toby Scheidt and Manning West accessible for Sunday, Rahe may not be on the docket to comply with possible starter Mathis Nayral in a rematch with Arkansas or Northeastern.
But it’s powerful to rule it out fully with the physique of labor he’s established.