February 22, 2013

Duncan, Jayhawks Blank SIU-Edwardsville, 8-0

Feb. 22, 2013

Kansas 8, SIU-Edwardsville 0
Gary Hogan Field//Little Rock, Ark.

Sophomore Justin Protacio went 3-for-3 with two stolen bases and two RBIs Friday against SIU-Edwardsville.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R
SIUE	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
KU	0	0	0	0	1	2	3	2	x	8

Box Score (.pdf)

Leaders – Batting
SIU-Edwardsville	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
B. Sipe	1	0	1	0	0	0
R. Mansfield	4	0	1	0	0	0
Kansas	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
J. Protacio	3	1	3	2	1	0
D. Smith	4	1	3	1	0	0

Pitching
SIU-Edwardsville	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
T. Felax (L)	5.2	7	3	3	0	2
B. McDowell	1.0	1	2	2	1	0
C. Wilkerson	1.1	6	3	3	0	1
Kansas	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
F. Duncan (W)	7.2	2	0	0	2	6
T. Watson	0.2	0	0	0	1	0
J. Mustain	0.2	1	0	0	0	0

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Junior Frank Duncan tossed 7 2/3 shutout innings, while the Jayhawk offense banged out a season-high 14 hits as Kansas routed SIU-Edwardsville, 8-0, in a game played Friday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock, Ark.

The Jayhawks improve to 3-2 on the season, alternating wins and losses, while SIUE falls to 1-3.

Duncan looked sharp throughout his second start, allowing no runs on two hits with two walks and six strikeouts. After surrendering a one-out double in the second inning, the junior retired 10 of the next 11 Cougars he faced. SIUE did not have a base runner reach as far as third base in the game.

Duncan’s shut down performance allowed KU’s offense to get going in the fifth inning. After collecting just one hit the first time through the order, the Jayhawks finally solved SIUE starting pitcher Travis Felax in the fifth.

Freshman Jacob Boylan – who had three more hits in the game – doubled to right center and scored when Ka’iana Eldredge followed with a two-out double. Sophomore Justin Protacio collected another two-out RBI with a single to left center as KU built a 2-0 lead.

After adding another run in the sixth inning, the Jayhawks put the game away with three runs in the seventh. Protacio drew a one-out walk, stole second and scored on Jordan Dreiling’s double to right. After a wild pitch scored Kevin Kuntz, who reached on a fielder’s choice, Tucker Tharp capped the three-run inning with an RBI single to center after a 10-pitch at bat.

Boylan, Protacio and Dakota Smith all had three hits in the game. Boylan’s three-hit game marked his fourth-straight multi-hit effort. Protacio also added two stolen bases and two RBIs.

Freshman Tyler Watson and junior Junior Mustain each had scoreless outings in relief of Duncan.

The game was scheduled on Wednesday after KU’s series with Northwestern was cancelled due to winter weather in Lawrence.

The Jayhawks will play two games on Saturday, facing Central Arkansas at 1 p.m., and Jackson State at 5 p.m., at Bear Field in Conway, Ark.

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