Offense Powers Jayhawks Past Eastern Michigan, 8-2

March 11, 2011

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Box Score in PDF Format

Postgame Interviews:Coach Price | Walz | Waters

Six different Jayhawks recorded multiple hits Friday, while Kansas recorded a season-high eight runs on 14 hits in an 8-2 triumph over Eastern Michigan in the first game of a three-game series at Hoglund Ballpark.

The Jayhawks win their third-straight and improve to 7-6 overall, while the Eagles fall to 7-6.

Despite recording a season-high 14 hits, KU couldn’t put the game away until a five-run eighth inning. With one out, senior Brandon Macias was hit by a pitch, while Alex DeLeon, Tucker Tharp and Kaiana Eldredge drew consecutive walks to push KU’s lead to 4-2. After a passed ball brought home another run, junior Jason Brunansky brought in two runs with a double to left center and put the home team comfortably ahead.

Brunansky went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and was one of six Jayhawks to record two hits in the game. His first two-base hit started things off in the first when he came around to score on an error later in the inning.

After EMU tied the game in the third, KU regained the edge on a two-out RBI hit by Eldredge. The Jayhawks stretched the lead to 3-1 in the sixth when sophomore Jake Marasco hit his first collegiate home run over the left field fence.

Marasco entered the game as the sixth-leading hitter in the Big 12 with a .390 batting average. He raised his season percentage to .392 with a 2-for-5 effort Friday.

Senior T.J. Walz enjoyed his best start of the season. The right-handed pitchers went 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts. He became the first Kansas pitcher to record double-digit K’s this season.

Junior Colton Murray came on in the eighth to protect a one-run lead and finished the game to earn his fourth save of the season.

The Jayhawks will look to win the series Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m., in the second game of the three-game series at Hoglund Ballpark.