Kansas Downs Saint Mary's to Post School Record Third Consecutive 30+ Win Season

May 3, 2005

Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan. – For a school record third consecutive season the University of Kansas baseball team notched at least thirty wins in a season, reaching the mark on Tuesday as it defeated Saint Mary’s, 8-3, at Hoglund Ballpark.

The victory improves KU’s overall mark this season to 30-21, while Saint Mary’s drops to 24-16.

The beginning of the game did not go as planned as Saint Mary’s took an early lead in the top of the first inning. The Spires were able to get two runs off a home run by left fielder Mark Walton that came off of Kansas starter Clint Schambach.

The Jayhawks responded with five runs of their own in the home half of the first inning to regain the momentum and take a 5-2 advantage. In the frame, junior designated hitter Jared Schweitzer was able to extend his career-long hitting streak to 19 games as he connected on a two-run home run. Senior first baseman Mike Dudley also contributed in the inning with a solo round tripper.

In the bottom of the third inning Kansas added a run to take a 6-2 advantage as freshman second baseman Ryne Price posted a run scoring single.

Kansas pushed across a pair of insurance runs in the eighth inning on a RBI groundout by junior center fielder Matt Baty and a RBI single off the bat of outfielder Derek Bailey.

Saint Mary’s attempted to rally in the ninth inning, but could manage only one run off Kansas reliever Jacob JEan.

Kansas baseball is back in action on Wednesday as it concludes its Sunflower State showdown with Wichita State in a 7 p.m. match-up at Eck Stadium. Over the weekend, the Jayhawks will entertain Texas in a three game series at Hoglund Ballpark. All three games of the Texas series can be seen live on ESPNU and Sunday’s contest will also air on ESPN2 at 5 p.m.

“We are going in to the Texas series expecting to find a way to win,” said Kansas head coach Ritch Price. “We are going to have to overachieve and find a way to work hard and come out with a couple wins,”