Jayhawks Outslug Missouri State, 8-5
May 9, 2007
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Senior Kyle Murphy went 4-for-5 and scored two runs, while John Allman and Ryne Price both homered as the University of Kansas downed Missouri State, 8-5, in a non-conference game played Wednesday at Hoglund Ballpark. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Kansas improves to 23-28 overall, while the Bears fall to 20-28.
The Jayhawks jumped on MSU starting pitcher Sean Toler right out of the gate. After Murphy led off the home half of the first with a single and scored on Allman’s fourth homer of the season staking KU to a 2-0 lead.
KU extended its lead to 8-0 with six runs in the fourth. The Jayhawks hit for a team cycle with the first four batters of the inning as Buck Afenir led off with a single, Price followed with a two-run shot to right, Brock Simpson doubled to shallow right and Preston Land collected his first triple of the season.
Price’s home run was his team-leading ninth round-tripper of 2007.
The inning continued as Murphy doubled in Land and scored on Erik Morrison’s two-run single.
The six-run frame was KU’s highest scoring inning since it tallied six in the fourth inning against No. 6 Texas on April 6.
The run support was more than enough for sophomore Andy Marks, who allowed two runs on three hits over 5.2 innings. The second-year southpaw struck out five Bears to run his season total up to 83, five away from the KU sophomore record.
Missouri State fought back with three runs in the sixth and two in the eighth, but sophomore Paul Smyth earned his seventh save of the year, retiring MSU in the ninth.
The Jayhawks earned their first home victory since it took the first game of a conference doubleheader against Baylor on April 15.
