Jayhawks Rout Northwestern Sunday to Complete Series Sweep

March 8, 2009

Final Stats | Quotes

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Sophomore Tony Thompson collected two doubles, a home run, and three RBIs, while Buck Afenir and Brian Heere also went deep for the Jayhawks as Kansas completed a three-game sweep of visiting Northwestern Sunday, 10-1 at Hoglund Ballpark.

The game, which was the continuation of a suspended contest which began Saturday evening but was delayed due to rain, moves Kansas to 7-3. The Wildcats fall to 2-9 on the season.

Thompson extended his hitting streak to 19 straight games, becoming just the fifth Jayhawk to hit safely in 19 consecutive games or more. The sophomore third baseman wasted little time adding to his streak Sunday.

The day began in the bottom of the third with KU up 2-1 and runners on first and second. Thompson laced a double into the left-center gap to bring home both runners and stretch the lead to 4-1. Pinch hitter Zac Elgie gave KU a four-run cushion by doubling down the left field line to bring home Thompson as the freshman collected his second RBI of the series.

In the fourth inning, the Jayhawk bats struck again as Afenir and Thompson hit back-to-back jacks to put the game away. It marked the first time KU has hit home runs in consecutive at bats since Thompson and Nick Faunce turned the trick against Missouri on May 11 of last year.

In the eighth inning, Heere – a pinch hitter – lined a shot into the trees in left-center field to mark the third Jayhawk round-tripper of the game. Heere’s first career home run was KU’s sixth of the weekend and seventh of the week.

The power display was more than enough support for KU’s tandem of pitchers. After starting pitcher Cameron Selik allowed an unearned run in the top of the first Saturday night, the Kansas pitching staff shut the Wildcats out over the final eight innings on three hits.

Freshman Lee Ridenhour, juniors Travis Blankenship and Brett Bollman and freshman Kelson Boyer all made scoreless appearances Sunday. Selik earned his first win as a Jayhawk by pitching the first three innings on Saturday night and allowing just one baserunner – who reached via an error.

The Jayhawks won for the fifth time in a row, and for the 22nd time against a non-conference opponent at home in their last 23 games. Dating back to May 11, 2007, Kansas is 22-1 against non-Big 12 foes at Hoglund Ballpark.

KU will look to extend the streak Wednesday when it takes on in-state rival Wichita State at 6 p.m. The game can be heard throughout the area on 1320 AM.