Jayhawks Fall at Stanford, 6-5
Feb. 23, 2007
PALO ALTO, Calif. –
Erik Morrison collected three hits, while Preston Land hit a two-run homer, however it was not enough for Kansas Friday. Stanford put five runs across in the bottom of the first and held on for a 6-5 victory over the Jayhawks Friday evening at Sunken Diamond.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Cardinal improve to 5-5, while KU falls to 7-2 on the season.
Stanford put the Jayhawks in a hole early, hitting a pair of home runs in the bottom of the first inning. Third baseman Ryan Seawell led off the Cardinal’s half of the first with a solo shot to left field. Then, after two hits, a walk and a sac fly, left fielder Jeff Whitlow hit a three-run shot off the scoreboard in left-center field.
KU answered with a run in the top of the second on sophomore Buck Afenir’s RBI single. After Stanford starting pitcher Nolan Gallagher retired the first two batters of the inning, Land and junior Casey Larson drew back-to-back walks. Afenir drove home the Jayhawks’ first run of the game with a seeing-eye single between short and third to score Land from second base.
The Jayhawks put another run across with two outs in the third inning as well. Again Gallagher retired the first two batters before John Allman, Ryne Price and Morrison delivered three straight singles to pull within 5-2.
KU tacked on another run in the sixth. After Gallagher hit back-to-back hitters, he dropped a throw to first base on a double play ball. The error on the pitcher allowed Morrison to score the Jayhawks’ third run.
After the Cardinal extended its lead on an RBI ground out, Land hit a two-run homer in the top of the eighth to cut the deficit to 6-5. Morrison led off with a single and Land drove a 1-0 pitch over the left field fence for his third and fourth RBIs of the season. However, that was as close as it would get.
KU put two runners on in the top of the ninth, but Stanford relief pitcher David Stringer got Land to ground out to end the game.
Despite a rocky first inning, KU starting pitcher Zach Ashwood recovered to go five innings, allowing five runs on five hits. The 6-foot-4 lefty walked one and struck out four, suffering his first loss of the season.
The Jayhawks and Cardinal will continue their series tomorrow with a 3 p.m. game at Sunken Diamond in Palo Alto, Calif.
