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PAGE 10B
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BASEBALL
Jayhawks dominate tournament, remain undefeated
BEN FELDERSTEIN
sports@kansan.com
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Junior outfielder Connor McKay makes contact with a pitch over the middle of the plate on March 26, 2013
One of the hardest things to do in baseball is to get production with two outs. Going into Sunday's game, the Jayhawks have been batting .325 and have scored 26 runs with two outs so far this season.
"We really worked hard on that offseason," coach Price said. "The guys are really buying into what the hitting coaches are saying and it's working."
working Kansas started the Snowbird Classic off against Northwestern on Friday. They needed extra innings to top the Wildcats by a score of 14-10.
Junior left-handed pitcher Wes Benjamin had another rocky outing on the hill, allowing five runs in 6 1/3 innings pitched. Kansas was buoyed by its offense and its late inning rallies once again.
Senior outfielder Tucker Tharp provided most of the power for Kansas, as he got the game started with a three-run homerun in the first inning. After Kansas blew a lead in the eighth, Tharp was able to drive home the game-tying run to send it into extras.
Even though senior closer Jordan Piche' struggled through 3 2/3 innings pitched, he was able to pick up his first win of the season. Piche' gave up four earned runs and was able to bear down and finish out the game.
The Jayhawks grabbed the lead in the top half of the 11th inning behind the bat of senior catcher Ka'iana Eldredge. Eldredge drove a two RBI single to right field to put Kansas on top 12-10. The Jayhawks put up two more in the 11th and won 14-10.
"I faced the same pitcher in my previous at bat," Eldredge said. "I knew what was coming. Our ability to fight back time and time again really shows our heart."
allowing six earned runs.
Saturday's game was not short of late inning heroics as Kansas had to come from behind again to defeat Milwaukee 9-8. Junior pitcher Robert Kahana got the start for Kansas and threw 5 1/3 innings,
Freshman pitcher Stephen Villines made his first career appearance and got the victory for the jayhawks. He threw 2 2/3 innings, allowing only one run.
"It was awesome to be put in that spot," Villines said. "It showed that coach really has a lot of trust in me. The guys behind me did a great job getting out."
Junior outfielder Connor McKay kept his strong start to the season going, driving in a career-high five RBIs. McKay belted a one-out grand slam in the fifth inning.
"I can attribute my success to a combination of a few things," McKay said. "One is that I've been here for three years and I'm getting more and more comfortable and the other is my swing. I've been keeping
my swing shorter and more compact."
Eldredge and junior first baseman Blair Beck led the late inning rally as Kansas had to fight back in the eighth once again. Eldredge connected on an RBI ground-rule double to get Kansas within one. Beck
one does a great job getting on base."
Freshman pitcher Jon Hander came in to shut the door, since Pince' was not available. Hander allowed only one hit in his inning of work, earning his first save in a Jayhawk uniform.
KA'IANA ELDREDGE
Senior catcher
stepped into the box with two runners in scoring position and belted on a double to left, putting Kansas ahead for good.
"Everyone one through nine knows their roles on this team," Eldredge said. "Every-
Sunday's victory against Mississippi Valley State came much easier to the Jayhawks. Kansas was able to win 11-1 behind a strong start from senior pitcher Frank Duncan. Duncan was able to fan 14 hitters while only allowing one run.
That's the best he's thrown all spring." Price said. "The breaking ball was working and he was filling up the strike zone all seven innings."
Kansas put its first run on the board in the bottom of the third inning when freshman catcher Michael Tinsley singled home Tharp for his first career RBI.
Kansas was able to put three more runs up on the board, heading into the fourth with a 4-0 lead. Tinsley led the fourth off with a leadoff triple and came home on an RBI single from junior infielder Justin Protocio. Junior outfielder Michael Suiter added another run and gave Kansas a 6-0 lead.
Mississippi Valley State scored its lone run in the fifth. Tinsley added another RBI
in the seventh inning, giving Kansas a 7-1 lead. Duncan left the game in the eighth with two outs, both of which were recorded as strikeouts.
Our freshmen production was great," Price said. "I really like this year's class. They have tremendous upside and get the job done."
Kansas was able to add four more in the bottom half of the eighth, putting them up 11-1. Kansas cruised to its third win of the weekend.
"We've built a lot of confidence thus far," Price said. "We just keep coming back and it's a lot of fun to watch."
The Jayhawks hope to stay undefeated in the season against St. Bonaventure, Kansas plays the Bonnies in the finale of the Snowbird Classic today at 10 a.m.
Edited by Amber Kasselman
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