Jayhawks Pull Away From #13 Shockers, 8-2
March 29, 2006
Box Score | Photo Gallery
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
The University of Kansas defeated Wichita State, 8-2, Wednesday night in front of 2,324 fans at Hoglund Ballpark-the largest crowd ever to be in attendance at a KU baseball game. The victory improved KU’s overall record to 18-10, while the Shockers dropped to 21-7 on the season.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
With the game tied at three after three innings, freshman catcher Buck Afenir sparked the Jayhawk offense with an RBI single in the fourth. The run scoring single plated fellow freshman Preston Land, who doubled earlier in the inning.
The power surge continued into the fifth inning as KU scored three more runs. The inning was highlighted by sophomore John Allman’s two-run single that scored Gus Milner and Jared Schweitzer. On the evening, Allman smacked three hits and drove in a career-high three runs.
KU capped off its six unanswered runs with two more in the sixth inning. Sophomore Erik Morrison knocked an RBI double and Allman recorded a run scoring single.
Junior Brendan McNamara took the rubber for the Jayhawks and pitched three innings allowing one earned run. He was relieved by freshman lefty Andy Marks to start the fourth frame. Marks pitched three innings of scoreless ball to improve his record to 2-1. The St. Louis, Mo., native struck out four batters and allowed just two hits.
Junior Ryotaro Hayakawa and freshmen Nick Czyz and Paul Smyth pitched one inning each. Hayakawa and Czyz allowed one hit while Smyth pitched a perfect ninth inning.
Five Jayhawks had two or more hits led by Allman and Ritchie Price with three each. Every KU player in the starting lineup reached base with a base hit or walk.
The Jayhawks will host Missouri in a three game Big 12 conference series starting Friday, March 31. First pitch of the Border Showdown is set for 6 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark.
Game Notes: Kansas improves to 5-4 against Wichita State under Ritch Price … Erik Morrison extended his hitting streak to a career-long eight games … Freshman Preston Land extended his career-long hitting streak to five games … Brendan McNamara made his first career start … KU is now 5-0 at home this season … The win was KU’s 13th come-from-behind victory of the year … Jared Schweitzer had his team-high 16th multi-hit game of the year.
