Waters' Three-Run Triple Leads KU to First Conference Win

March 20, 2011

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

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KU leftfielder Jimmy Waters’ three-run triple led the Jayhawks to a 7-2 win over Oklahoma State in the first game of a doubleheader Sunday at Hoglund Ballpark and in the process gave Ritch Price’s squad their first conference win of the 2011 season.

The victory moves Kansas to 8-10 on the young season and snaps OSU’s eight-game winning streak as they fell to 14-4.

The Cowboys got on the board in the first inning with a solo home run by designated hitter Dane Phillips, but that lead would not hold for long as Kansas answered in the bottom half of the second with an RBI single from junior Chris Manship, and a run scoring scamper home by senior Brandon Macias on a passed ball.

KU would tack on another run with an RBI double off the bat of freshman Kaiana Eldridge to make it 3-1 Jayhawks after two.

Oklahoma State bats would answer the Jayhawks’ three-run outburst the following frame with a sacrifice fly by leftfielder Devin Shines, which scored Cowboy second baseman Davis Duren to make it 3-2 KU.

Waters would give the Jayhawks all the breathing room they needed in the fourth with a triple to right center field that plated three and gave KU a commanding 7-2 lead.

That four-run cushion would be all that Jayhawk starter Tanner Poppe would need as he went seven strong, surrendering two runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts. In relief, freshman Frank Duncan went two innings giving up just one hit with three strikeouts.

Besides Waters’ three RBI day, DH Chris Manship also had a standout day at the plate for the Jayhawks who grinded out 12 hits against Cowboy pitching. Manship was one of four KU batsman with multiple hits in the game, going 2-4 with an RBI. The other three Jayhawks who rounded first more than once Sunday were first baseman Zac Elgie (2-4), second baseman Kaiana Eldredge (2-3) and shortstop Brandon Macias (2-5, 1 RBI). Redshirt sophomore Jake Marasco’s average continues to lead his team. Marasco went 1-4 and now stands at .386 on the season.

The Jayhawks will look to take the series and sweep Sunday’s double-header against OSU in the rubber game of the match-up when right hander Alex Cox takes the hill against the Cowboys.