No. 6 Texas Nips Jayhawks, 6-5
April 7, 2007
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Sophomore Buck Afenir and freshman Robby Price each had three hits, however it was not enough for the University of Kansas Saturday. Russ Moldenhauer’s RBI double in the top of the eighth lifted No. 6 Texas to a 6-5 triumph over the Jayhawks Saturday in the rubber game of the teams’ three-game Big 12 series.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Texas improves to 28-10 overall and 9-3 in the Big 12, while Kansas falls to 18-20 and 4-8 in conference play.
The Jayhawks trailed by four in the middle of the fifth inning, however the home team rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the inning and took a 5-4 lead on Kyle Murphy’s RBI single to left field.
The Longhorns tied the game in the seventh on Kyle Russell’s NCAA leading 20th home run of the season. UT then scored the winning run on an infield single and a double to right center.
Sophomore lefty Andy Marks did not factor in the decision, pitching 6 2/3 innings, allowing just five hits and five runs, while striking out seven and walking three.
Sophomore reliever Paul Smyth was saddled with the loss, going 2 1/3 innings and surrendering Moldenhauer’s double in the eighth.
A pair of home runs lifted Texas to a 4-0 lead early, but Kansas came roaring back in the fifth. Afenir led off the inning with a double and scored on Robby Price’s two-out single. Left fielder John Allman reached on an error to load the bases, setting up Brock Simpson’s two-run single to left.
Morrison then doubled in the tying run to cap the four inning rally and close the book on Texas starter Joseph Krebs. Krebs allowed four runs on six hits over 4 2/3 innings.
In the sixth, Murphy singled to left to score first baseman Preston Land, who had reached on a fielder’s choice.
The Jayhawks scored all five of their runs with two outs, and outhit the Longhorns, 11-7. Afenir and Robby Price led the charge with three hits each, while Simpson chipped in a 2-for-5 effort. Land went 1-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.
The loss marks the eighth one-run defeat for KU this season to go along with just two single-run victories.
KU will play host to Oral Roberts at Hoglund Ballpark Tuesday at 5 p.m. in a rematch of a non-conference game played on Feb. 27.
