Seniors Lead KU Baseball Rout of No. 11 Kansas State

May 17, 2009

Final Stats | Quotes |

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Senior Nick Faunce recorded a career high five hits, while senior Buck Afenir went 2-for-3 with his ninth home run of the season as Kansas wrapped up the regular season with a 17-7 triumph over No. 11 Kansas State Sunday evening at Hoglund Ballpark.

Kansas finishes the regular season at 37-19 and 15-12 in conference play, while Kansas State is 39-15-1 and 14-11-1. The two teams will meet in the first round of the Big 12 Baseball Championship Wednesday at 9 a.m. at Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City.

On Sunday, KU put the game away early with a seven-run third inning for its first run-rule victory since 2006. The Jayhawks sent 12 men to the plate in the frame, with the big hit being a two-run homer off the bat of Afenir. The round-tripper was the senior’s ninth of the season and 30th of his career.

Later in the inning, Faunce recorded his second single of the night to drive in a run, while junior David Narodowski, who also had three hits in the game, doubled in a pair of runs as the Jayhawks tied for their biggest inning of the season.

The big offensive inning helped starting pitcher Lee Ridenhour record his sixth victory of the season, the most by a Kansas freshman since Jason Schreiber went 6-1 in 1994.

Ridenhour pitched 5 2/3 innings, scattering nine hits and five runs with no walks and three strikeouts.

In the fourth inning, sophomore Tony Thompson blasted a two-run homer to left field, his 18th of the season. Thompson’s 18 homers tie Travis Metcalf’s total, which are the most by a Jayhawk in a season.

Thompson was one of five Jayhawks with multiple hits in the game. Faunce led the way with a career-high five hits in the game. His five singles were one shy of the school record.

KU earned their 15th conference win of the season to place fifth in the Big 12, their highest finish since the conference was formed in 1996.

The Jayhawks also collected their 25th victory at Hoglund Ballpark this season, which is the second-most by a Kansas team. KU’s .893 winning percentage at home is also the highest in team history.