KU Sweeps Texas A&M to Conclude Regular Season

May 21, 2006

Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

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The University of Kansas concluded its regular season and a sweep of Texas A&M Sunday with an 11-6 victory. KU’s record stands at 38-23 overall and 13-14 in the Big 12 as the Jayhawks will enter next week’s Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City, Okla., as the No. 6 seed.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Senior Ricky Fairchild settled down after giving up two first inning runs to earn his sixth victory of the season. The Dallas, Texas, native retired 10-straight batters at one point and scattered five hits in 6.2 innings.

Seniors Ritchie Price and Jared Schweitzer both recorded three-hit ball games to cap off “Senior Day” at Hoglund Ballpark. Fellow seniors Matt Baty (1-for-4 with a run scored) and Gus Milner (1-for-3 with two runs scored) also capped off their final home game in fine fashion.

The Aggies took an early lead by manufactured two first inning runs. Blake Stouffer and Kyle Colligan notched one-out singles to put men on first and third base. After Colligan stole second, Jose Salazar laid down a safety squeeze to score Stouffer. Colligan then scored on an RBI single by Ryan Hill.

Back-to-back walks by Texas A&M’s starter Kyle Thebeau to start the third inning followed by a sacrifice bunt by Matt Baty put Jayhawks at second and third base. Ritchie Price took advantage of the opportunity with a two-run single up the middle.

A single by Schweitzer and walk to Milner loaded the bases. Sophomore John Allman then laced a two-run single. An RBI double by Erik Morrison chased Thebeau from the game and gave Kansas a 5-2 lead.

Reliever Matt Ueckert walked Brock Simpson to loaded the bases again. Ryne Price drove home Allman on a fielder’s choice. After Ueckert was replaced by Ben Brockman, Dylan Parzyk singled through the left side to plate Morrison and cap KU’s seven run inning.

Two straight doubles by Schweitzer and Milner plated the first of two Kansas runs in the fourth inning. Morrison picked up his second RBI of the game with a single that score Milner.

After the Aggies scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning, Schweitzer added two more Jayhawk runs in the bottom half with a double down the left field line.

Texas A&M had one more rally left in them in the ninth inning. After scoring one run, Brendan McNamara struck out the games final batter with the bases loaded to clinch the victory for KU.

Kansas will now play at least three games at the Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City, Okla. The Jayhawks will play their first game against a yet to be determined opponent at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 5 p.m. or 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24.

Game Notes: Eight seniors were honored before the game (Matt Baty, Don Czyz, Ricky Fairchild, Gus Milner, Ritchie Price, Kodiak Quick, Trey Randa and Jared Schweitzer), the group of seniors leave Kansas with the most wins of any class in program history … KU’s 13th Big 12 victory is the most Big 12 wins in school history … Kansas improved to 20-6 at home this year … KU swept its first Big 12 series of the year and its first since sweeping Kansas State May 21-23 of 2004.