Despite Rally, #30 KU Falls to #8 Oklahoma In Extra Innings, 11-9
April 29, 2006
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LAWRENCE, Kan. –
The University of Kansas fought back from an 8-0 deficit to tie No. 8 Oklahoma in the ninth inning only to lose, 11-9, in 10-innings Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Hoglund Ballpark. The two teams will play the second game of the twin-bill tonight at 6 p.m.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Sooners led by eight after five and a half inning in a game played through wet conditions. KU started to rally back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Senior Jared Schweitzer started the rally with a solo homer to lead off the frame. A two-run double by sophomore Brock Simpson cut OU’s lead to five.
After KU scored one run in the fifth inning the Sooners struck back for a run of their own to take a 9-4 edge.
Kansas put up three more runs in the seventh inning courtesy of a solo homer by freshman Preston Land, an RBI single from senior Ritchie Price and a run-scoring double by Matt Baty.
The homer by Land was his eighth of the season, the most ever hit by a KU freshman.
With KU trailing by two runs and a man on in the eighth inning, Land looked to tie the game with a blast to right field. The ball hit off the top of the wall, just inches from being a two-run homer. Land cruised into second base with an RBI double, bringing KU to within one at 9-8.
Still trailing by a run in the ninth inning, the Jayhawks mounted one last rally. Ritchie Price lined a single to left field with one out and moved up to second on a ground out by Baty. Senior Gus Milner then ripped a single to left, scoring Price from second to tie the game.
Freshman Paul Smyth who entered the game to start the ninth inning came out to pitch the tenth. On Smyth’s first pitch of the tenth inning, Kevin Smith hit a home run to right field. With two outs, Jackson Williams hit another solo homer to give OU an 11-9 lead.
In KU’s half of the tenth inning, sophomore John Allman led off with a single and moved to second on a walk to Preston Land. OU’s closer Will Savage got pinch hitter Ross Kelling to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.
Savage picked up the win to improve to 6-2 on the season. Smyth suffered his first career loss and stands at 2-1.
