No. 30 Kansas Downs No. 8 Oklahoma, 7-5
April 30, 2006
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
The University of Kansas (32-18, 10-11 Big 12) scored five fifth inning runs and held on to defeat No. 8 Oklahoma (35-11, 13-5 Big 12), 7-5, Sunday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark. The victory snapped OU’s 13-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the country. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
After the Sooners scored 28 runs in the series’ first two games, senior Kodiak Quick (8-3) held OU to four hits and no runs in the games first 6.1 innings. Quick recorded the victory to improve to 8-2 on the season. The Belton, Mo., native allowed two runs on six hits while striking out two in 6.1 innings of work.
KU used six hits and five runs to break a scoreless tie in the fifth inning. Senior Jared Schweitzer led off the frame with a single then scored on a double by sophomore John Allman. Sophomore Erik Morrison then drove Allman home with a single. After Morrison stole second base freshman Andrew Spitzfaden lined a single to right-centerfield to plate another run. Spitzfaden scored from first base off a Brock Simpson double. Senior Ritchie Price capped the scoring with an RBI single to center.
Allman extended KU’s lead to 6-0 with a solo homer in the sixth inning. The home run was Allman’s fifth of the season.
The Sooners didn’t get to Quick until one out in the seventh inning. Jackson Williams and Joe Dunigan hit back-to-back solo home runs to put OU on the scoreboard. Freshman Paul Smyth replaced Quick after the home runs and recorded the final two outs of the inning
Kansas came back with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Spitzfaden ripped his second triple of the series down the left field line and scored on Simpson sacrifice fly.
Senior Don Czyz started the eighth inning on the mound with the Jayhawks leading 7-2. After retiring the first two batters he faced, Czyz gave up his first home run of the season to OU’s clean up hitter Ryan Rohlinger.
OU closed to within two runs in the ninth inning on a two-out two-run homer by Chuckie Caufield.
Kansas will host St. Mary’s on Tuesday, May 2 at 7 p.m. before heading to Austin, Texas to face the Longhorns in a three-game series beginning on Friday, May 5.
Game Notes: Rain delayed the game for 15 minutes in the middle of the fifth inning … Don Czyz gave up his first two home runs of the season … KU is 5-8 against Top 10 teams this season … 14 home runs were hit in the series, 10 by OU and 4 by KU … Quick’s 18th career win moves him into a tie for 8th all-time … The series marked the first time this season Don Czyz did not record either a win or save in a weekend series.
