Czyz Ties Records, Jayhawks Get 5-3 Win
April 7, 2006
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Senior closer Don Czyz tied a Big 12 and a University of Kansas (21-12, 5-5 Big 12) record while senior Matt Baty went 4-for-4 to lift the 24th-ranked Jayhawks over No. 26 Texas Tech (22-11, 4-5 Big 12), 5-3, Friday night at Hoglund Ballpark.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Czyz entered the ballgame with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning with KU holding a two-run lead. The appearance marked the 111th of Czyz’s career, tying a Big 12 record held by Baylor’s Zane Carlson.
Czyz struck out the first batter he faced and got the third out of the eighth on a fielder’s choice to home plate. Czyz pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up his 11th save of the season and tie the school record for most saves in a single season set by Jimmy Walker in 1993.
Freshman Paul Smyth relieved starter Sean Land and picked up his first collegiate win. The Atascadero, Calif., native struck out three Red Raiders and scattered three hits in 2.2 innings before handing the ball to Czyz.
After returning from an injury Wednesday against Wichita State that cost him 18-games, Baty went 4-for-4 in his first home game of the season. Hitting third in the lineup, the Wichita, Kan., native recorded two doubles, scored a run and drove in another.
Kansas jumped on the scoreboard with a run in the first inning. Senior Ritchie Price got KU going with a one-out singled to center on the first pitch he saw from Texas Tech starter Miles Morgan. Baty then lined a double to right field scoring Price.
The Red Raiders took a 2-1 lead in the third inning. Kyle Martin led off the inning with a single. TTU then put down back-to-back sacrifice bunts that ended up going for infield singles to load the bases. The Raiders scored both runs of the inning off RBI groundouts.
KU retook the lead with a two-run double by sophomore John Allman in the fourth inning. Senior Gus Milner and sophomore Erik Morrison scored on Allman’s two-bagger after drawing back-to-back walks.
A single, sacrifice bunt and double by the Red Raiders tied the game in the fifth inning. After Tech loaded the bases with two outs, Smyth replaced Land. Smyth got TTU’s clean up hitter Tyler Reves to line out to second baseman Matt Berner to end the inning.
Kansas scored two runs in the sixth inning to take its 5-3 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Baty led off the frame with his second double of the game. After Milner reached on an error, Morrison and Allman ripped RBI singles.
Kansas and Texas Tech will play the second game of its three game series Saturday at 6 p.m. KU will throw senior Ricky Fairchild (4-2, 4.21 ERA) while TTU counters with junior lefty Colt Hynes (3-0, 1.17 ERA).
Game Notes: Senior Matt Baty recorded his sixth and seventh doubles in nine career games against Texas Tech … Baty’s four hits tied a career high … Sophomore John Allman ended the day 2-for-4 with three RBI and is now hitting .412 in Big 12 games … Freshman Preston Land had his nine-game hit streak snapped.
