Jayhawks Split a Doubleheader with Northern Colorado
March 21, 2007
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Eric Snowden’s pinch hit home run in the bottom of the sixth lifted the University of Kansas to a 5-4 triumph over Northern Colorado in the first game of a doubleheader played at Hoglund Ballpark Wednesday. The Bears won the second game, 4-2.
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The Jayhawks move to 14-12 overall, while the Bears go to 7-10.
Snowden’s pinch hit home run was the first by a Jayhawk player since Justin Ellrich came off the bench and hit a round tripper against Kansas State on April 26 of last year. It was also the junior’s first career homer.
Kyle Murphy, John Allman and Ryne Price all had two hits to lead the Jayhawks attack. Junior Andres Esquibel improved to 4-1, picking up the win in relief, while Sophomore Paul Smyth earned his fourth save of the season, setting the Bears down in order in the ninth.
The Jayhawks scored three runs in the top of the first on Allman’s RBI double and two runs batted in by Brock Simpson and Erik Morrison. After a Northern Colorado run, KU scored another run on an error.
After the Bears tied the game in the top of the sixth, Snowden untied it with a solo shot to left field.
Freshman Robby Price went 0-for-3 in the game to snap a 16-game hitting streak. Price’s streak was the 14th longest in KU history and the longest streak by a freshman.
In the second game, senior Ryotaro Hayakawa worked out of a second inning jam and pitched three innings of scoreless relief before surrendering a three-run homer to Kevin Sandberg in the top of the fifth. The senior righty took a tough-luck loss, pitching five innings, allowing four hits and three runs.
He struck out a career high six hitters, including three in the third inning.
Ryne Price provided KU’s only offense, tripling off the center field wall to score two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
The Jayhawks put the tying runs on in the bottom of the ninth, but Northern Colorado relief pitcher retired Morrison, Price and Preston Land to end the game.
KU will play host to No. 14 Oklahoma State in a three-game Big 12 series beginning Friday at 5 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark.
