Kansas Baseball Knocks Off #2 Nebraska, 7-6
March 26, 2006
LINCOLN, Neb. –
The KU baseball team defeated No. 2 Nebraska (17-3, 2-1), 7-6, Sunday at Haymarket Park in Lincoln, Neb. Kansas (17-10, 2-4) used three runs in the sixth inning to pull ahead in a game that saw five lead changes.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The victory snapped the Huskers 13-game winning streak and stopped their 21-game home winning stretch. Sophomore Brock Simpson had a career-high four hits while Ritchie Price recorded three RBI including the game-winner.
Kodiak Quick (4-2) earned the victory in five innings of work. Don Czyz picked up his ninth save, pitching the final two innings.
Nebraska took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. A double followed by a single and walk loaded the bases full of Huskers. Andrew Brown recorded a sacrifice fly to right field to plate NU’s run. Quick gave up another single but worked out of a bases loaded jam to hold Nebraska to a single run.
Kansas scored three runs in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead. Simpson led off with a triple and scored on an RBI single by Ritchie Price. Back-to-back walks to Jared Schweitzer and Gus Milner loaded the bases with no outs.
After Justin Ellrich struck out, Erik Morrison earned a walk to bring Price home. Sophomore John Allman then reached on a fielder’s choice. The throw attempt to first base to try and get Allman out sailed wide, giving Milner a chance to score. Nebraska’s first baseman Brandon Buckman collected the ball and threw home in time to nail Milner and end the inning.
Nebraska retook the lead with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Buckman started the frame with a solo home run to right field. The homer was the first Quick’s allowed this season. After two walks and a single loaded the bases, Nick Jaros recorded a two-run pinch-hit single to give the Cornhuskers a 4-3 edge.
Kansas came back to tie the game at four in the fourth inning. Preston Land knocked a two-strike single to lead off the inning and was moved to second on a sacrifce bunt by Dylan Parzyk. After Simpson recorded his third hit of the day, Luke Gorsett booted the ball in right field allowing Land to score. Simpson was thrown out trying to advance to second on the play.
The Huskers gained a one-run lead with an unearned run in the fifth inning. Jeff Christy reached on a fielding error by KU’s third baseman Erik Morrison with two outs. After Quick walked Nick Sullivan, Jaros singled up the middle to score Christy.
KU took a 7-5 lead with three two-out runs in the sixth inning. Allman got the rally started with a one-out single. After Preston Land struck out, Parzyk recorded a single up the middle. Simpson tied the game with his fourth hit of the game to score Allman. Ritchie Price then laced a two-run double down the left field line to give KU a two run lead.
Junior Brendan McNamara replaced Quick to start the sixth inning. McNamara didn’t allow a hit in his two innings of work and closed the door when Nebraska had the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Kansas will face in-state rival Wichita State on Wednesday, March 29. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark.
Game Notes: Temperature at first pitch was 48-degrees … Brock Simpson hit lead off for the second time this season … Freshman Justin Ellrich made his third career start Ritchie Price was hit by a pitch for the 49th time of his career in the first inning … Kodiak Quick allowed his first first inning earned run of the season … Kansas has went 1-2 in its regular season series in each of the last six years against Nebraska.
