Volume 126 Issue 106
kansan.com
Monday, April 14, 2014
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COMMENTARY Spring Game surprises team
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BEN LIPOWITZ/KANSAN off nine hits
joking, no more teasing and this was no longer about which side had more talent.
Junior pitcher Robert Kahana pitched a complete game during Kansas' first game of their double-header against TCU on Saturday. Kahana allowed three runs off nine hits.
"The leaders were just getting on everybody in the locker room," Stowers said. "The twos looked better than the ones out there."
By the time the Blue Team took the field for the third quarter, everything about them seemed different. Their pride was on the line and, if they weren't careful, their starting roles could be, too.
"You're getting season-like situations." Stowers said. "That's a damn good rhythm to get into."
That's what Weis wanted to create by flipping the score. But the Blue Team forced the comeback on their own, emerging with a 20-10 victory, with the score every bit as important as how the Blue Team achieved it.
Edited by Sarah Kramer
And in the moments when the top players needed to make plays, they found a way to get it done, whether it was Mcntell Cozart or Tony Pierson or Stowers.
Jayhawks avoid the sweep against TCU
SHANE JACKSON sports@kansan.com
"I thought we played well all three games," said coach Ritch Price. "Luckily we played well enough in the final game to salvage the series; they came in red hot, playing their best baseball."
In game one on Friday night the Jayhawks saw the best pitcher in the country, left-handed pitcher Brandon Finnegan, a first-round draft prospect who allowed a mere 35 base hits coming into game one. Kansas scored two runs off nine hits, eight of which came off Finnegan in the 5-2 loss.
The Jayhawks dropped the first two games 5-2 and 3-1 in tightly contested pitching duels. They salvaged the series by avoiding the sweep and winning game three. With the
Coming off their disappointing series sweep against Iowa in their midweek two-game set, the Jayhawks were set to play the hottest team in the Big 12. Kansas (22-15) welcomed the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University (22-13) in a three-game series at Hoglund Ballpark this past weekend. The Horned Frogs came into the conference matchup riding a five-game winning streak, having not lost in the month of April.
5-1 victory in the nightcap of the doubleheader on Saturday, the Jayhawks moved to 6-6 in conference play to keep their season alive.
Senior pitcher Jordan Piché
has settled into his new role as the Friday night starter. After getting beat up in his first start against Kansas State, he tossed the most innings of his Jayhawk career with six, allowing four runs off 10 hits.
"It's coming back to me," Piché said. "It's a different mindset; I don't like giving up hits and as a starter you are going to give up hits."
Game two was another battle of the arms as the Horned Frogs tossed out their crafty right-handed pitcher Preston Morrison. Kansas struggled to get contact off his off-speed stuff as they managed only four hits, and their lone run coming from a solo shot over the left field wall by junior outfield Connor McKay in the seventh.
"Morrison is real good with his sinker and slider," McKay said. "He kept us off balance with his fastball. Hats off to him for pitching a phenomenal game."
Junior right-handed pitcher Robert Kahana pitched a complete game in a losing effort for Kansas. He allowed three runs off nine hits for his second complete game of the season, to avoid using the bullpen in the first of a doubleheader on Saturday.
After scoring a combined three runs in the first two games, the Jayhawks got their offense going in game three. Junior outfielder Dakota Smith, who didn't start in game one of the doubleheader, had three runs batted in, including a sliding triple in
the sixth to score two.
McKay added home runs eight and nine on the year, with two more solo shots over the left field wall. He now leads the conference in runs batted in with 38.
Kansas' senior right-handed pitcher Frank Duncan tossed a beauty in game three, as he went 8.1 innings deep, allowing one run off five hits, striking out seven in his fourth win on the year.
Kansas will look to keep its season alive with a crucial midweek home series against non-conference opponent Grand Canyon. Game one of the two-game series will be Tuesday, April 16, at 6 p.m.
— Edited by Amber Kasselman
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