Jayhawks Take On Sacramento State, Gonzaga at Peoria College Showdown
Feb. 25, 2010
Game Notes in PDF Format 
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Kansas at Peoria College Showdown
Following a split in a season-opening doubleheader with Eastern Michigan, the Kansas Jayhawks will travel to Peoria, Ariz., to battle Sacramento State and Gonzaga at the Peoria College Baseball Showdown. The Jayhawks will play Sacramento State on Friday and Saturday at 4 p.m. (CST), and Gonzaga on Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 11 a.m.
Audio from all four games will be available via internet webcast at www.kuathletics.com. Veteran play-by-play man Tom Hedrick will call all the action from the Peoria Sports Complex.
Series Histories
Kansas holds a 1-0 record all-time against Sacramento State, with the only previous meeting coming in 2005. The Jayhawks downed the Hornets, 12-5, at the Best of the Midwest Tournament in Kansas City, Kan.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Kansas and Gonzaga on the baseball field.
About the Jayhawks
Kansas split its season-opening doubleheader with Eastern Michigan at the Metrodome Monday, falling 3-1 in the first game before scoring a 9-5 victory in game two.
The offense struggled in the twinbill, but produced nine runs in the nightcap despite collecting just four hits. Sophomore James Stanfield went 2-for-8 in the doubleheader with a pair of RBIs, including a run-scoring triple.
KU’s pitching was dominant, holding the Eagles to just five earned runs over 18 innings. Senior Cameron Selik led the staff, allowing one unearned run over six innings on two hits.
Scouting the Hornets
Sacramento State tore the cover off the ball in its three-game opening series against UNLV. The Hornets scored 43 runs on 55 hits, including 20 extra base hits in winning two of three from the Rebels. As a team, Sacramento State is batting .385.
Senior infielder Josh Powers led the Hornets’ offense, going 9-for-16 with two homers and 10 RBIs in the three-game series. Junior Derrick Chung also enjoyed a productive weekend in Las Vegas, going 6-for-14 with a team-high seven runs scored.
On the mound, KU will face the Hornets’ top two pitchers in sophomore righty Jesse Darrah and junior right-hander Brandon Sandoval. Darrah pitched the season-opener and took a no-decision after allowing four earned runs on six hits over five innings. Sandoval earned a series-clinching win last Saturday, holding UNLV to three runs on three hits over five innings.
Head coach John Smith is in his 32nd season at Sacramento State, and faced Ritch Price several times when the Kansas coach was at Cal Poly. Price held a 24-11 advantage against Smith during his eight years at Cal Poly.
Scouting the Bulldogs
Gonzaga also enjoyed a successful opening weekend, taking two out of three in the Cactus Classic in Tucson, Ariz. The ‘Zags defeated Missouri (10-4) and New Mexico State (9-3), before falling to Washington (10-9).
The Bulldogs hit .348 against their three opponents at the tournament and scored 28 runs. Senior outfielder Drew Heid led the offense, going 7-for-14 in the tournament with a triple and five runs scored, while sophomore Andy Hunter collected six RBIs with two doubles and a homer.
The ‘Zags will send lefties Ryan Carpenter and Reedy Berg to the mound against Kansas this weekend. Carpenter took a no-decision in Gonzaga’s loss to Washington on Sunday, allowing four runs on four hits over six innings. Berg pitched in relief against New Mexico State and held the Aggies scoreless on four hits over the final four frames.
Gonzaga was picked to finish fourth in the West Coast Conference, but was the only team other than conference-favorite San Diego to receive a first-place vote.
Last Time Out
Senior Cameron Selik earned his first victory of the season, holding Eastern Michigan to one run on two hits over six innings, while the Jayhawks sent 12 men to the plate and scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to down Eastern Michigan 9-5 in the second game of the doubleheader Monday night at the Metrodome. EMU won the first game, 3-1.
Cameron Crazy
Kansas senior Cameron Selik has found his groove in his last two outings. After tossing 6 2/3 strong innings against Coastal Carolina in the NCAA Tournament last year, the senior followed it up by allowing just one unearned run over six innings in his 2010 debut Monday.
Selik, who had season-ending surgery prior to the 2008 season, had an up-and-down first year with Kansas last season. However, he seemed to turn a corner with his start against the Chanticleers in the NCAA Tournament.
Over his last 12 2/3 innings, Selik has allowed just one earned run on seven hits with no walks and eight strikeouts.
Walk Like a Man
Kansas had no trouble drawing walks in the second game of the doubleheader against Eastern Michigan Monday night. In all, the Jayhawks were issued 12 bases on balls, as well as having four hit batsmen by the Eagle pitching staff.
In the eighth inning alone, KU scored six times without recording a base hit. Following a leadoff walk and two strikeouts, Kansas drew five consecutive walks before Zac Elgie was hit by a pitch to force home another run. Jason Brunansky and Alex DeLeon were also walked giving KU eight walks in the inning.
The 12 walks by the Jayhawks in the game were the most since Feb. 18, 2005, when KU also drew 12 bases on balls against South Dakota State.
Starting Strong
In the doubleheader at the Metrodome to open the season, Kansas pitchers T.J. Walz and Cameron Selik each turned in quality starts, going six innings and allowing less than three runs.
Last season, Kansas pitchers had 22 quality starts, and claimed wins in 17 of those games. Walz led the team with seven quality starts, while Selik turned in three.
Up Next
The Jayhawks will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., for their annual non-conference battle against the University of Arkansas on Tuesday, March 2. The teams will play one game at Baum Stadium beginning at 3 p.m. KU Athletics will provide a free live web cast of the game at www.kuathletics.com.
