No. 30 Arkansas Tips KU, 2-1
Feb. 27, 2008
Final Stats | Box score in pdf
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Despite a strong outing on the mound by sophomore starting pitcher Wally Marciel, the Jayhawks fell to 30th-ranked Arkansas, 2-1 in a non-conference baseball game played Wednesday at Baum Stadium.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Razorbacks improve to 4-0, while Kansas falls to 2-4.
After scoring 16 runs in the final game of the Hawaii-Hilo series, the Jayhawks were held to one run on four hits by six Arkansas pitchers. Junior John Allman drove in the only KU run with a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded in the eighth inning.
Kansas put the tying run on second with two-out double by Buck Afenir, which proved to be the only extra base hit of the game. However, Razorback pitcher Travis Hill fanned Jayhawk third baseman Tony Thompson on a 3-2 pitch to complete the save. In the eighth inning, Hill worked out of a bases loaded jam, allowing just the one run to score on a fielder’s choice.
Sophomore pitcher Wally Marciel took a tough-luck loss, allowing just two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. The 6-foot southpaw scattered four hits and walked three, but kept the Razorbacks off balance for most of his outing.
The only runs Marciel allowed came on a Brett Eibner bases loaded single through the left side of the infield with two outs in the sixth. Sophomore Brett Bollman – the former Razorback – relieved Marciel and immediately induced Aaron Murphee to ground out to third.
Bollman pitched an inning and a third of scoreless relief, while junior Paul Smyth needed just seven pitches to retire Arkansas in the eighth.
Center fielder Nick Faunce went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles. No other player in either lineup had more than one hit.
Kansas will look to rebound when it travels to Nashville, Tenn. for the Music City Classic. The Jayhawks will face No. 7 Vanderbilt to open the tournament Friday at 4:05 p.m.
