Jayhawks Complete Doubleheader Sweep

Feb. 3, 2007

HILO, Hawaii –

Junior transfer Casey Larson collected three hits, scored three times and drove in a pair of runs on the day to propel the University of Kansas to a doubleheader sweep of Hawaii-Hilo, 12-0 and 7-2, Friday at Wong Memorial Stadium.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

The Jayhawks, which have now won 13 of their last 14 games against UHH, improve to 3-0 on the season, while the Vulcans drop to 0-7.

Freshman Wally Marciel earned his first win in a Jayhawk uniform in his native state of Hawaii. The 6-foot-2 Kailua, Hawaii product allowed just two runs on three hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked three before giving way to the bullpen in the sixth.

Junior Erik Morrison picked a good time to collect his first hit of the season. The shortstop had gone hitless in his first eight at-bats before he doubled down the left field line to score a pair of runs and break open a one-run game in the top of the fifth.

The next inning, Larson plated two more with a two-out, pinch-hit single to center field. It was the junior transfer finished the night with three hits in four official at-bats.

Junior Brock Simpson also had two RBIs in the second game, with a two-run single in the top of the third. Simpson led the offense with two hits and three runs scored.

In the first game, senior Kyle Murphy homered and collected a career-high four RBIs as the KU shut out UHH, 12-0 in a seven-inning contest.

Murphy was one of three Jayhawks to enjoy a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a double and a home run. Freshman Robby Price went 2-for-4 with a two-run double in the second inning, while Larson also chipped in a pair of hits and scored three times.

KU starter Nick Czyz struck out seven in 4 1/3 innings to earn his first victory of the season.

The teams will resume their five-game series Saturday with a single game at Wong Memorial Stadium beginning at 4 p.m. CST (noon local time).