KU Baseball Defeats Hawaii-Hilo to Complete Series Sweep
Feb. 10, 2005
HILO, Hawaii – Junior outfielder A.J. Van Slyke went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBI as the University of Kansas baseball team defeated Hawaii-Hilo 11-1 at Wong Field in Hilo, Hawaii, on Wednesday to sweep the six-game series.
Kansas’ 6-0 start is the best since 2002 when the team started the season 10-0. The win also gives KU its first series sweep since taking all three games from Kansas State in the final series of the 2004 season.
The Jayhawks (6-0) got off to a hot start in the contest by plating five runs in the top of the first inning. KU got five hits in the inning, including a pair of big hits off the bats of freshman. Freshman left fielder John Allman provided a two-run single and freshman second baseman Ryne Price drove a pitch over the wall in right field for his first collegiate home run, a three-run blast.
Hawaii-Hilo (0-11) got on the board in the bottom of the second inning off Kansas starter Kodiak Quick. Left fielder David Chu gave the Vulcans their first base runner of the night as he connected on a one-out double and was able to score two batters later on a RBI single by shortstop Jimmy Crider.
Quick (2-0) pitched six innings, allowing only five hits and one run while striking out three to win his second game of the series.
In the top of the seventh inning, Kansas was able to open up an 11-1 lead by batting around and taking advantage of four Vulcan errors. A two-run single by junior center fielder Matt Baty highlighted the inning offensively for KU.
In the victory, Baty posted a season-high 4-for-5 performance and drove in two runs.
Freshman left-handed pitcher Logan Murphy pitched the final three innings of the contest to collect his first save of the season.
Kansas will now travel to Palo Alto, Calif., to take on No. 6 Stanford in a three-game series beginning Friday.
