Jayhawks Rout Wichita State, 11-2, Sweep Series
May 4, 2011
WICHITA, Kan. –
Box Score in PDF Format 
Kansas baseball scored 11 runs on a season high 18 hits, including three each by freshman Ka’iana Eldredge and senior Casey Lytle as the Jayhawks unloaded on Wichita State, 11-2, to sweep the two-game midweek series Wednesday night at Eck Stadium.
The Jayhawks improve to 22-24 overall, while the Shockers fall to 28-21. The nine-run margin of victory was the biggest by KU in a game against Wichita State since a 10-1 Kansas win on April 7, 1988.
Kansas scored early and often in a game that was never really in doubt. In the first inning, KU plated two on a pair of singles and two Wichita State errors. Junior Zac Elgie collected the only RBI on a ground out.
KU sent 10 men to the plate in the second inning, scoring four runs on five hits to knock Wichita State starting pitcher Albert Minnis out of the game. Senior Casey Lytle, sophomore Alex DeLeon and junior Chris Manship opened the frame with three-straight base hits. Lytle collected his first of three hits, while DeLeon doubled to the gap in right center to give the Jayhawks a 3-0 lead.
Following a fielder’s choice and a walk, Ka’iana Eldredge singled home another run to end Minnis’ night after just 1 1/3 innings. The inning continued as Jimmy Waters was hit by pitch to load the bases, while Elgie followed with his second RBI with a single to left field to cap the four-run rally.
From there the KU pitching staff took over. Sophomore Thomas Taylor earned his fifth victory of the year, pitching three shutout innings of the game in a pre-determined split. Taylor allowed three hits and recorded four strikeouts. Senior Wally Marciel followed Taylor with three scoreless innings before Wichita State finally got on the board with an RBI ground out in the seventh.
By that point, KU had built a 10-run lead. Waters added his fourth home run of the season to put the final exclamation point on the night. In all, 11 different starters recorded base hits for the Jayhawks, including all nine starting position players. The 18 base hits were the most by KU since it collected 19 in a game against Missouri on May 7 of last year.
The Jayhawks will look to keep the momentum going this weekend when KU travels to No. 10 Oklahoma for a three-game series at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Friday night’s game will open at 6:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. game Saturday and a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday. Saturday’s contest will be carried nationally on Fox Sports Net.
