KU Baseball Blasts Hawaii-Hilo, 17-3, in First Game of Doubleheader
Feb. 4, 2006
KONA, Hawaii –
Freshman Preston Land hit two of KU’s four home runs as KU (4-0) defeated Hawaii-Hilo (0-4), 17-3, in a seven inning game and first of Saturday’s doubleheader.
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Senior transfer Ricky Fairchild recorded the victory on the mound for the Jayhawks. The Dallas, Texas, native struck out five batters and held the Vulcans to four hits and one run in five innings.
Senior Gus Milner led off the second inning with a four-pitch walk and sophomore Ryne Price followed with a single. Milner scored on a RBI single through the left side by sophomore Erik Morrison. Land hit a three-run homer, his first career, over the centerfield wall, giving KU a 4-0 lead after an inning and a half.
Seniors Ritchie Price and Jared Schweitzer led off the third frame with singles and moved up a base on a deep fly out by Milner. Price scored on a wild pitch and a double by sophomore John Allman plated Schweitzer. Morrison picked up his second RBI of the game with a single through the left side, scoring Allman and giving KU a 7-0 lead.
In KU’s seven run fourth, Ryne Price blasted a three-run home run and Land hit a solo homer for his second of the game. Junior Dylan Parzyk hit his first home run at KU with a pinch-hit solo shot in the sixth.
The Jayhawks added two runs in the seventh with a sacrifice fly from Ryne Price and an error. Senior Trey Randa pitched the final two innings in relief for KU, giving up a two run home run in the seventh.
Kansas and Hawaii-Hilo will play a nine-inning game to conclude the doubleheader and the five-game series.
Game Notes: KU has won 11 straight games against Hawaii-Hilo dating back to the 2004 season … Ricky Fairchild, a senior transfer from Tulane made his first start for the Jayhawks and first collegiate start after coming out of the bullpen 37 times for the Green Wave.
