Elgie, Kuntz Power Kansas Past Baker, 7-3

April 17, 2012

Final Stats

Kansas 7, Baker 3 Hoglund Ballpark//Lawrence, Kan.

Junior Ka’iana Eldredge tags out a Baker base runner at second base after he overran the base. Kansas downed the Wildcats, 7-3 Tuesday. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R BU 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 KU 2 1 0 1 0 3 0 0 x 7 Box Score (.pdf) Leaders – Batting Kansas AB R H RBI BB HR Z. Elgie 4 1 2 2 0 1 K. Kuntz 2 1 1 2 2 0 Baker AB R H RBI BB HR S. Stewart 5 1 2 0 0 0 J. Orozco 3 0 2 1 0 0 Pitching Kansas IP H R ER BB SO R. Kahana (W) 5.0 4 1 1 1 6 J. Jakubov 2.0 3 2 0 0 1 Jor. Luvisi 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 F. Duncan 1.2 2 0 0 0 3 Baker IP H R ER BB SO S. McAlister (L) 3.0 4 3 3 2 1 C. Lee 3.0 5 4 3 3 1 J. Vossen 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 Z. Durr 1.0 0 0 0 1 1

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Senior third baseman Zac Elgie went 2-for-4 with his fourth home run of the season in the first inning, while junior infielder Kevin Kuntz broke the game open with a two-run double down the left field line as Kansas downed Baker, 7-3, in a non-conference baseball game played Tuesday evening at Hoglund Ballpark.

The Jayhawks win consecutive games for the first time since March 31-April 1 and improve to 14-23 on the year, while the Wildcats fall to 23-21-1.

After falling behind in the first inning, Kansas used Elgie’s two-run homer and runs in four of the first six innings for a win.

Elgie’s majestic two-run shot cleared the trees just beyond the left field fence and plated Kuntz, who walked with one out in the inning. It marked Elgie’s fourth home run of the season, which tied him for the team lead with freshman Connor McKay.

KU added single runs in the second on Dakota Smith’s RBI single and in the fourth on an RBI ground out by McKay.

The Jayhawks broke the game open in the sixth. With two out and runners on first and second, Taylor Hart reached on an infield hit and advanced when the Baker second baseman had trouble coming up with the ball cleanly. The error allowed KU’s fifth run to score. Kuntz then made the Wildcats pay with a double down the left field line that plated two and gave KU a 7-1 lead.

That was more than enough support for starting pitcher Robert Kahana, who picked up his third victory of the season. The freshman fanned a season-high six hitters and allowed one run on four hits over five innings. After allowing a sacrifice fly in the first inning, and getting into a jam in the second, Kahana retired eight of the next nine men he faced.

Baker cut the deficit to 7-3 with two runs in the seventh, but sophomore Frank Duncan recorded the final five outs to preserve the win.

Elgie and Smith led the offensive effort for KU, collecting two hits apiece. While junior Jordan Dreiling scored three runs after two walks and a single in the sixth.

Kansas will play host to Saint Mary at 6 p.m. Wednesday night looking to extend its winning streak to three-straight. Fans can attend Wednesday’s game free of charge.