Jayhawk Rally Falls Short Against Illinois
March 19, 2008
BRADENTON, Fla. –
Senior Casey Larson went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, while John Allman drove in three runs, but it was not enough for Kansas to earn a win Wednesday. Illinois scored seven runs in the first four innings and held on for an 11-9 triumph over KU at the Florida Spring Classic at IMG Academy Field.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Fightingin Illini improve to 6-5, whole the Jayhawks fall to 11-8.
Despite falling behind by a 10-2 margin after six innings of play, the Jayhawks fought back and brought the tying run to the plate in both the eighth and ninth innings.
Trailing by eight runs, KU closed to within 10-5 in the seventh on a bases loaded walk by Robby Price, a sacrifice fly by John Allman and an infield single by Ryne Price.
The Jayhawks scored two runs in the eighth and ninth innings on two-run hits by Allman and Larson. Larson’s two-run single with the bases loaded brought the Jayhawks within two.
However, with the tying run on first, Robby Price grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the ballgame.
Ryan Hastings did the most damage in the Illinois lineup, going 4-for-4 with a triple and a home run.
Larson led the KU attack with three hits, while Joe Southers and Ryne Price each chipped in a pair of base knocks.
Due to flight complications on Tuesday, KU was playing without 12 members of its team in the game. Storms in the Dallas area forced the team to split up with most of the pitchers and bench players arriving early Wednesday morning or Wednesday afternoon.
The Jayhawks will look to rebound Thursday with games against Dartmouth (9:30 a.m. CST) and Central Connecticut State (12:30 p.m. CST) at IMG Academy Field.
