No. 10 Texas Snaps KU's Eight-Game Winning Streak
March 14, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas –
Senior Ryne Price hit a pair of solo home runs, however Texas catcher Cameron Rupp hit two, two-run homers and collected five RBIs as the 10th-ranked Longhorns ended KU’s longest winning streak in over a year and a half with an 8-6 triumph at UCFU Disch Falk Field Friday evening.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Longhorns improve to 11-4 overall and 1-0 in the conference, while the Jayhawks fall to 10-6 and 0-1 in Big 12 play.
Kansas’ bats struck early against UT ace Austin Wood, but couldn’t muster enough to come back against the Longhorn bullpen.
Neither starting pitcher made it past the fifth inning. The Jayhawks knocked UT ace Austin Wood around for four runs on four hits in two innings, including back-to-back homers by Price and senior Joe Southers in the second.
However, UT struck back with three runs in the third and three more in the fifth. In both innings, Rupp hit two-run home runs. While Preston Clark collected RBI hits in front of him.
The Jayhawks cut the lead to 8-5 on Price’s second homer of the game and fifth of the season in the sixth inning. The senior outfielder became the first Jayhawk to hit two homers in a game since he accomplished the feat on April 1 of last year, also in a KU loss to Missouri.
KU struck for another run in the seventh, as Nick Faunce led off the inning with his fifth double of the season. He scored on a single up the middle by John Allman.
However, that was as close as it got. Longhorn relief pitchers Cole Green, Brandon Belt and Stayton Thomas allowed just two hits over their final three innings of work.
KU’s bullpen fared just as well. After an error and allowing Rupp’s second homer of the night, senior Andres Esquibel settled down and allowed just one base runner over the next three innings. Paul Smyth worked a scoreless ninth.
Price led KU going 2-for-4 with his two solo homers, while Southers also chipped in a 2-for-4 effort.
The teams will meet again in the second game of a three game set at 2 p.m. at UFCU Disch Falk Filed.
