Kansas University baseball pitchers Blake Weiman, Zack Leban, Sam Gilbert and Stephen Villines combined to yield just four hits, and the Jayhawks defeated Northern Colorado, 2-1, on Tuesday at Hoglund Ballpark.

Starter Weiman pitched the first five innings without allowing an earned run, Leban (1-0) earned the victory, and Villines notched the save.

“They were all really good today and yesterday,” KU coach Ritch Price said of his relievers. “A year ago, we would have found a way to lose a close game when our bullpen came in. The strength of our team is in our bullpen, and we are making progress.”

Junior Michael Tinsley, who made his first career start in left field, went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI, and junior Marcus Wheeler drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth with a groundout.

The Jayhawks (2-1) will travel to Surprise, Ariz., for the Big 12/Pac-12 Challenge on Friday through Monday.

N. Colorado 100 000 000 — 1 4 0

Kansas 100 001 00x — 2 6 1

W — Zack Leban (1-0). L — Joe Love (0-1). Sv — Stephen Villines (1).

2B — Jake Garcia, Jacob Ek, NC; Michael Tinsley, KU.

KU highlights — Tinsley 3-for-3, RBI; Marcus Wheeler RBI; Steve Goldstein 1-for-2; Tommy Mirabelli 1-for-2; Matt McLaughlin 1-for-4; Blake Weiman allowed 3 hits, 0 earned runs, struck out 6 in 5 innings.