When the going got tough in Friday’s series opener against North Dakota State, the offense shut the door for Kansas University’s baseball team.

But Saturday, when the Bison wouldn’t go away again, Jayhawk closer Don Czyz shut the door almost all on his own. The junior reliever struck out five batters in the last three innings, earning his third save of the season as KU defeated NDSU, 7-5, at Hoglund Ballpark.

KU coach Ritch Price provides instruction to baserunner -- and his son -- Ryne Price during the second inning. The Jayhawks knocked off the Bison, 7-5, Saturday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark.

“I was pleased with our bullpen,” KU coach Ritch Price said. “I don’t think our bullpen walked a guy, so I think that was crucial for them only putting up a couple of runs after getting three in the first.”

The bullpen as a whole was solid, giving up just five hits and one run after starting pitcher Sean Land was roughed up early.

Land’s struggles began in the top of the first inning, when the Bison constructed a 3-0 lead before KU (15-8) got to the plate. Land gave up just two hits in the inning, but walked two batters and was called for two balks.

The Jayhawks responded in a big way in the bottom of the second, though. Senior first baseman Andy Scholl and freshman second baseman Ryne Price led off the inning with back-to-back doubles to ignite a four-run charge that also included an RBI single by freshman third baseman Erik Morrison.

Price and Scholl provided most of the offensive punch for the Jayhawks, each going 3-of-4 at the plate. The performances were much-needed for both players, who entered the game with batting averages floating below .250.

“I feel a lot more relaxed, just letting the game come,” Ryne Price said of his recent surge. “Last Sunday, I started to feel it and got two knocks, and then this was a big weekend because it needed to carry over.”

Though KU’s lead was cut to 6-5 in the fifth inning after senior reliever Scott Sharpe surrendered a run, senior Andrew Rebar closed out the frame and silenced NDSU (0-9-1) in the sixth, setting things up for Czyz.

Kansas University senior first baseman Andy Scholl tries to catch North Dakota State's Neil Wagner on a pickoff play.

The closer mowed down the Bison batters, all while keeping a low pitch count. If needed, Czyz could throw an inning today when the Jayhawks wrap up the series, Ritch Price said. First pitch is 1 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark.

All the innings are an attempt to get the Kansas bullpen ready for the grind of the Big 12 Conference season, which gets under way in less than two weeks.

Holding onto a slim lead down the stretch as they did Saturday is something else the Jayhawks want to be able to do consistently by the time the Big 12 slate rolls around.

“It’s just having the mentality of throwing up zeros so that our offense will be able to stay in the game,” Czyz said. “We play in a man’s conference, the Big 12, so you’ve got to be able to play in close games to be able to ball with them.”