KU Defeats Vanderbilt, 4-3, Win All Three Games of Music City Challenge

Feb. 26, 2006

Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –

The University of Kansas (10-4) scored all four of its runs in the fifth inning and held on to beat Vanderbilt (3-4), 4-3, on Sunday in Nashville, Tenn. The Jayhawks won all three games of the Music City Challenge over the weekend.

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Senior Kodiak Quick (2-1) pitched a season-high eight innings, striking out five batters and allowing six hits to earn his second victory of the season. Senior Don Czyz entered in the ninth and closed out the game for his sixth save of the year and third of the weekend.

Freshman Buck Afenir started the KU fifth with a lead-off single and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Matt Berner. Sophomore Brock Simpson singled to put runners at the corners.

A fielder’s choice ground out by senior Ritchie Price allowed Afenir to score when the catcher muffed the throw home. After Jared Schweitzer walked senior Gus Milner drilled a two-run double down the right field line. Schweitzer scored from third on a ground out by sophomore John Allman to give KU a 4-0 lead.

Vanderbilt responded in the bottom of the fifth. The Commodores followed a single and double with an RBI ground out and sacrifice fly to plate two runs. Vanderbilt pulled to within one run at 4-3 with an unearned run in the eighth.

Milner and Afenir each had two hits on the afternoon. KU out-hit Vanderbilt 9-7.

KU will return to Lawrence to host its first home games of the season. The Jayhawks will play Western Illinois in a three game series beginning Friday, March 3 at 3 p.m.

Game Notes: The temperature was 35 degrees and sunny at first pitch … Don Czyz picked up his 18th career save in his 100th career appearance at KU … Kansas is now 3-0 all-time against Vanderbilt.