Jayhawk Baseball Falls in Tournament Opener

March 4, 2005

Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Senior designated hitter Travis Dunlap went 3-for-3 at the plate with four RBI but it was not enough as the University of Kansas Baseball team fell to Austin Peay 11-6, Friday at Dudy Noble Field in the opening game of the 2005 NBC Classic in Starkville, Miss.

The loss drops the Jayhawks to 12-6 this season.

The Governors (5-2) took an early lead 1-0 in the game by plating a run on an RBI single from designated hitter Chris Poynter bottom of the first inning.

In the top half of the second, KU used a RBI single off the bat of Dunlap to post a run of its own and knot the ball game at 1-1.

Austin Peay took command of the game in the bottom of the second inning by plating three runs on three hits in the frame.

Dunlap collected his second RBI of the ball game in the top of the fourth inning to cut the APSU lead to 5-2. After senior catcher Sean Richardson doubled to right center to lead off the inning and junior outfielder A.J. Van Slyke flew out to right field, Dunlap stepped to the plate and sliced a double down the right field line to score Richardson and give the Jayhawks their second run of the ball game.

APSU sophomore outfielder Jacob Crass singled in the home half of the fourth inning and came around to score later in the frame on a wild pitch from Kansas starter Clint Schambach to give the Governors their sixth run of the game.

Schambach (2-2) pitched four innings in the game and yielded a season-high six runs and eight hits en route to his second loss of the season.

After APSU tacked a run onto its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, Dunlap stepped to the plate in the top half of the sixth and added to his already impressive afternoon by connecting on his first home run of the season with a runner on base. The two-run shot was the sixth of his Kansas career and cut the Austin Peay lead to 7-4.

The Governors added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to open a 9-4 advantage, but the Jayhawks battled back throwing two runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning. After a walk by junior shortstop Ritchie Price and a single by Richardson, Van Slyke collected his fifth double of the season to drive in both runners.

Kansas freshman third baseman Erik Morrison picked up a career-high three hits in the loss.

The Jayhawks are back in action on Saturday with a pair of games at the NBC Classic. KU will face off against Austin Peay for the second time in the tournament at 11 a.m. before taking on tournament host Mississippi State at 4:30 p.m.