#18 Baylor Downs #25 KU in Big 12 Opener
March 17, 2006
WACO, Texas –
The 18th-ranked Baylor Bears used five runs in the third inning and seven in the eighth to down No. 25 Kansas, 15-3, Friday night in Waco, Texas, in both teams Big 12 opener. KU drops to 15-7 on the year while Baylor improves to 13-5.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Game two of the series originally set for Saturday at 6 p.m. has been moved up to 1 p.m. due to the threat of inclement weather in the Central Texas area Saturday evening.
KU scored the games first run in the third inning. Freshman Preston Land led off the inning with a two-strike base hit. With two outs, senior Ritchie Price singled through the right side, sending Land to third. Senior Jared Schweitzer drove in Land with a single to centerfield.
Baylor responded with five runs in its half of the third inning. Kevin Russo started the scoring with a double down the third base line to score Drew Bias and Kevin Sevigny. After BU scored three more runs on a single and double KU’s starter Sean Land was replaced by freshman Paul Smyth. Smyth promptly recorded two outs to get KU out of the jam.
Baylor got to Smyth in the fourth inning for two runs to increase its lead to 7-2. The Jayhawks left the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning.
In Baylor’s seven-run eighth inning the Jayhawks used three pitchers (Andy Marks, Carter Holt and Ryotaro Hayakawa). Land took the loss, dropping to 4-3.
Preston Land crushed his fourth homer of the season to lead off the ninth inning. KU left two runners on base in the ninth and 10 for the game.
Kansas will send senior Ricky Fairchild to the hill on Saturday while Baylor will counter with junior lefty Cory VanAllen. Game time will be at 1 p.m.
Game Notes: Ritchie Price recorded his 825th career at-bat in the 3rd inning to tie the school record and his 826th AB in the 5th inning to set a new school record for career at-bats, surpassing Matt Tribble (2001-04) … Baylor stole five bases, an opponent season high.
