Kansas University’s baseball team hasn’t had much from its pitching staff to cheer about since late March.

The Jayhawks’ 9-2 victory against Baker on Monday night at Hoglund Ballpark was one of those rare moments, and they savored every bit of it. Senior right-hander Chris Smart effectively tossed seven innings, allowing just eight hits and no earned runs while throwing a mere 69 pitches.

Junior Scott Sharpe struck out three in relief before turning the reins over to team favorite Ryotaro Hayakawa, who closed the game by forcing BU’s Nelson McCoy to ground into a double play.

“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. A win’s a win, and it was good to get one here,” Smart said. “I’m glad I got the opportunity to pitch. I’ve been dealing with a sore arm, and it hurt me not to be able to go out there this weekend. But I got the opportunity today, and we came out with the win, so it was good.”

As pivotal of a performance as it was for the pitchers, it meant just as much to the entire KU squad, coach Ritch Price said. After being outscored 48-18 by Texas Tech during a three-game sweep over the weekend, the Jayhawks needed to experience winning again.

“We just needed to walk out of a game and feel good about ourselves,” Price said. “That’s why it was a positive outing.”

Added sophomore shortstop Ritchie Price: “It’s been pretty frustrating the last six weeks, but baseball was fun again tonight. It was fun to be out there tonight, and it hasn’t been that way for a long time.”

Kansas (26-25-1) got off to a rocky start and allowed Baker to strike first. The Bears capitalized on two KU fielding glitches in the top of the second inning. Justin Quick reached second on a two-base error by third baseman Travis Dunlap. Justin Greiner followed with a single. Quick then scored on Evan Durnal’s ground out. Greiner scored when Wade Evans singled up the middle and advanced to second when the ball was misplayed in the outfield. That gave the Bears a 2-0 lead.

After that it was all Kansas.

Kansas University shortstop Richie Price misses the tag on Baker's Nelson McCoy. The Wildcats scored the first two runs in Monday's game at Hoglund Ballpark, but the Jayhawks went on to win, 9-2.

The Jayhawks’ bats fired up while Smart cooled off the Bears (21-34).

A.J. Van Slyke’s and Ritchie Price’s walks in the third sparked KU’s rally. Ryan Baty was beaned, which loaded the bases. Van Slyke scored on a passed ball moments before the Baty brothers crossed the plate on Matt Tribble’s single. Kansas led 3-2 and never trailed again.

Ritchie Price drilled a two-run triple into the right-field corner in the fourth which pushed the lead to 5-2. Matt Baty walked and scored on a Price single in the sixth, and Price ripped another RBI-single in the eighth. The Jayhawks scored two more times in the eighth for the 9-2 advantage before Sharpe and Hayakawa preserved the lead.

“I think everybody did a good job,” said Hayakawa, a freshman from Narita, Japan. “Chris Smart did a very good job out there for seven innings, and Sharpe came in the next inning. Everybody did a good job.”

6Sports video: KU coasts to victory over Baker

The Jayhawks will play their fifth game in four days when they battle Southwest Missouri State at 6 tonight at Hoglund Ballpark. KU defeated SMS, 7-6, on April 27 in Springfield, Mo. Clint Schambach will start on the mound for Kansas.