Jayhawks Drop Heart-Breaker, 7-6

April 18, 2008

Final Stats

LINCOLN, Neb. –

Senior shortstop Erik Morrison went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while junior Nick Czyz pitched six strong innings, but it was not enough. Craig Corriston’s two-run single in the bottom of the seventh lifted No. 9 Nebraska past Kansas, 7-6 Friday evening at Hawks Field.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

The Huskers improve to 27-6-1 overall and 12-3-1 in the Big 12, while the Jayhawks fall to 24-17 overall and 4-9 in conference play.

Kansas scored six runs off Nebraska starting pitcher Johnny Dorn, who had a season ERA of 1.98 coming into the game. However, they couldn’t make the plays when they needed to. KU committed two errors in the game, which led to three unearned runs.

The Jayhawks drew first blood in the game, scoring a run in the top of the second on a Tony Thompson sac fly and then regained the lead in the third on RBI singles by Ryne Price and Preston Land. Price’s RBI in the third was his league-leading 54th of the season.

After the Huskers scored three in the fourth to take a 5-3 lead, the Jayhawks answered back with three runs in the fifth inning.

Catcher Buck Afenir and Price drew back-to-back walks ahead of Morrison’s two-run double which tied the game. After a strikeout, Thompson delivered again with a soft line drive to center that staked KU to a 6-5 lead.

However, Nebraska answered back with the winning runs in the seventh. Jake Mort opened the inning with a single and then moved to third after back-to-back walks, setting up Corriston’s two-run hit to left field.

Czyz took a tough-luck loss, pitching into the seventh inning and allowing four earned runs on six hits. The 6-foot-2 lefty walked three and struck out five on a season-high 123 pitches.

Four different Jayhawks collected two hits each in the game, including the No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7 hitters, Price, Morrison and Land. John Allman also pitched in a 2-for-5 effort.

KU’s right-handed hitters collected eight of the season-high nine hits off Dorn, who earned his fifth win of the season.

The Jayhawks will look to even the series Saturday at 3:35 p.m. at Hawks Field. The game can be heard on KLWN (1320-AM) or at www.kuathletics.com.