Kansas Wraps Up Weekend with 4-1 Triumph over Air Force

March 6, 2011

SURPRISE, Ariz. –

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Senior left-handed pitcher Wally Marciel tossed seven strong innings, while third baseman Jake Marasco went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored as Kansas snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over Air Force Sunday morning at the Coca Cola Classic in Surprise, Ariz.

The Jayhawks went 1-3 in the tournament and move to 5-6 overall. The Falcons fall to 4-7 overall.

Kansas used a big second inning and a dominating performance by its senior lefty to earn their fifth win of the season.

Marciel, a senior from Kailua, Hawaii, went seven innings, allowing one run on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. He did not allow a base hit through the first 4 1/3 innings and held the Falcons to just five baserunners in seven innings.

The senior won for the second time this week after holding Southern Utah to no runs on four hits over seven innings on Tuesday at home.

His teammates took care of the rest, scoring three runs in the second inning. Marasco and senior Brandon Macias started the inning with back-to-back hits, while Jordan Dreiling drove in his first run of the season with a single to left. After a high relay throw to the plate allowed both baserunners to move up 90 feet, freshman Kaiana Eldredge delivered them home with a shot down the left field line.

Kansas added a run in the eighth on an RBI hit by Macias – who recorded his first multi-hit game of the season. Eldredge also chipped in two hits for KU.

Jayhawk closer Colton Murray picked up his second save of the season, pitching the final two innings. The junior righty allowed one base hit, but struck out four, including the last three in the ninth.

The win was KU’s first since sweeping a doubleheader from Southern Utah on March 1. The Jayhawks dropped the first three games of the weekend.

Kansas starting pitchers Marciel and T.J. Walz – who had a quality start Saturday evening against No. 7 Arizona State – were both named to the Surprise Classic All-Tournament team.

KU (5-6) will open a two-game series with North Dakota beginning Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark.