Hall, Land Power Jayhawks Past Xavier, 12-4
March 1, 2008
Final Stats | Box score in pdf
NASHVILLE, Tenn. –
Sophomore pitcher Shaeffer Hall pitched seven shut out innings, while junior Preston Land and the Jayhawks’ offense backed him up with 12 runs and 13 hits in a 12-4 Kansas victory over Xavier Saturday afternoon at Hawkins Field in the second day of the Music City Classic.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Jayhawks improve to 3-5 on the season, while the Musketeers fall to 1-4.
Hall, a sophomore transfer from Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo., dominated the Xavier lineup. The 6-foot-1 lefty scattered four hits over seven innings, striking out four and walking one.
After a rough start in his Jayhawk debut, in which he lasted just three innings, Hall was outstanding. He retired eight Musketeers via the ground out.
Land and the Jayhawk offense backed up their pitcher. The junior first baseman went 4-for-5 in the game with two home runs, two doubles and five RBIs. He became the first Jayhawk since Casey Larson to hit two home runs in the same game.
Land also set career highs with four hits and five RBIs in the game.
Larson also provided a spark for the KU offense. The senior right fielder went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.
With Land on second in the top of the second, Larson delivered a two-out double down the right field line to plate the Jayhawks’ first run of the afternoon.
After Land hit his first home run of the game to stake the Jayhawks to a 3-0 lead in the fifth, KU exploded for nine runs in the top of the eighth. The Jayhawks sent 13 men to the plate, including Land, who hit a solo shot to left field and doubled in two more runs in his second turn at bat.
For the second time this season, the Jayhawk first baseman collected two hits in the same inning. Six of his nine hits have come in two games.
Sophomore Robby Price went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, while leadoff hitter Nick Faunce also drove in a pair of runs for KU.
The Jayhawks’ nine-run eighth inning was the most runs KU has scored in an inning this season.
KU (3-5) will look to close out the weekend on a positive note with a game against Iowa Sunday, in the final day of the Music City Classic. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m.
