Kansas Freshman Lead Rally in Doubleheader Sweep of Nebraska

April 26, 2009

Final Stats | Quotes |

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Freshman Zac Elgie went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, while fellow freshman James Stanfield had a big two-run single as Kansas rallied from an early hole to complete a doubleheader sweep of Nebraska, 9-4, in the nightcap Sunday at Hoglund Ballpark. KU won the first game of the twinbill, 8-2.

The Jayhawks improve to 29-15 overall and 10-8 in the Big 12, while the Huskers fall to 19-23-1 and 5-16 in conference play. KU’s 10 league victories are the most since the team won 13 Big 12 games in 2006.

Nebraska led 2-0 early, and then regained a 4-3 lead in the seveth, before the Jayhawks scored the final six runs of the game.

Trailing 4-3 going into the bottom of the seventh, Casey Lytle started the Kansas rally with a seeing-eye-single between short and third, then moved to second on Elgie’s base hit. After the second out, Narodowski bounced a ball through the left side to tie the game, setting the stage for Stanfield’s flare to left which gave KU the lead for good.

Kansas scored three insurance runs in the eighth as Afenir reached on an error, Tony Thompson doubled and Lytle walked. After a bases loaded walk to Preston Land, Elgie lined a single to left center, plating the eighth and ninth Jayhawk runs of the game. The freshman recorded his third three-hit game of the season.

Freshman starting pitcher Lee Ridenhour kept the Jayhawks in the ballgame, scattering seven hits over 6 1/3 innings. The first-year righty allowed three runs with a walk and two strikeouts. It was Ridenhour’s fifth quality start of the season.

Sophomore Brett Bochy recorded the final two outs of the seventh to pick up his fourth victory of the season – one back of the team lead. KU’s bullpen quartet of Bochy, Colton Murray, Travis Blankenship and Paul Smyth held Nebraska scoreless over the final 2 1/3 innings.

Offensively, seven different Jayhawks recorded hits in the second game. Elgie led the way with three, while Narodowski chipped in a 2-for-5 effort.

The Jayhawks downed Nebraska in a three-game series for the first time since 1997. KU had won at least one game against the Huskers each year since 2000, but had not had a series win in that time period.

KU will host Chicago State in a two-game midweek series beginning Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. This will be the Jayhawks’ next-to-last home series of 2009.