Texas Downs Kansas, 9-3 at Big 12 Championship

May 21, 2009

Box Score |

OKLAHOMA CITY –

Junior David Narodowski hit his second home run in as many days, while sophomore Tony Thompson extended his hitting streak to 15 games, but it was not nearly enough. Brandon Belt and Cameron Rupp hit home runs to power Texas to a 9-3 victory over Kansas Thursday in Big 12 Baseball Championship action at Bricktown Ballpark.

The Jayhawks fall to 37-21 overall, and 0-2 at the conference tournament, eliminating them from advancing to the championship. Texas moves to 39-13-1 overall and will advance to the championship game with a win over Kansas State Saturday.

Texas used the longball to score early and rode the right arm of sophomore Chance Ruffin to victory. Ruffin retired the first nine men he faced, until Narodowski led off the fourth inning with a solo home run to center. Ruffin tossed a complete game, holding KU to three runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

Narodowski’s home run was his second of the tournament and fifth of the season. He also turned in KU’s other highlight.

In the eighth inning with the Longhorns threatening with runners on first and second and nobody out, the Kansas shortstop caught a sinking line drive and flipped to second baseman Robby Price, who threw to first to turn the first triple play in the 13-year history of the Big 12 Championship. It was also the first triple play turned in by the Jayhawks since 1999.

Thompson went 1-for-4 in the game with his 25th double of the season to extend his hitting streak to a season-high 15 games. Thompson has had two separate 14 game stretches with at least one base hit this season, and holds the second-longest streak in KU history at 23 games.

The Jayhawks will look to bounce back Saturday with their final game of the tournament, when they will meet Baylor at 9 a.m.