THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012
PAGE 9
KANSAS 6. SAINT MARY 0
BASEBALL REWIND
Jayhawk pitchers step up and win against Spires
I MAX LUSH
mlush@kansan.com
While the Kansas offense struggled to put away the Saint Mary Spires (17-25) early, the pitchers made sure that the Saint Mary never posed a threat.
The Jayhawks (15-23, 3-9) shut out their opponent for just the second time this season, winning 6-0 Wednesday night at Hoglund Ballpark. Their only other shutout was the third game of the season against Belmont, a 2-0 victory. The Jayhawks have surrendered at least one run in their last 34 games this season.
And it wasn't veteran players who didn't allow a run either, four freshmen took the mound and only one upperclassman pitched, senior Matt Kohorst.
"We really like our young players," coach Ritch Price said. "We're the youngest team in the country in a BCS conference."
Freshman starter Drew Morovick (3-1, 5.08) worked into the fifth inning for just the third time this season. He threw 5.0 innings allowing no runs on two hits. He struck out two batters on the evening.
It was the only time this season that Morovick didn't allow a run while pitching more than two innings.
"Every time we go out to the mound before an inning we're told to put up a zero," Morovick said. "It's kind of like our job. It's been beaten into our minds all fall and now in the spring. It's our job to put up zeros."
Morovick has also been fighting the flu since last week. He said his
appetite had returned only recently. He missed his last start against Wichita State a week ago.
"It felt great that I'm not sick and I got to go out and pitch," Morovick said. "I love this team, and I love being around these guys. I'm glad we got another shutout."
Another freshman, Colin Toalson (0-1, 4.40), relieved Morovick and took the game into the seventh inning. Toalson is just one of a number of young pitchers who get playing time during midweek games.
He threw two innings on the evening, allowing only one hit and striking out one.
"Playing these games like this and getting freshmen playing time, just seeing those guys up out there pumps the younger guys up even more," Toalson said. "The older guys like to see it too. It's kind of fun."
Perhaps the best stat of the day for the Kansas pitchers, aside from the zero on the scoreboard, was that they did not nurrender a walk in the game. Instead, they struck out more batters (6) than the number of hits recorded (5).
The Jayhawks are on a winning streak for the first time since the start of the season.
"It feels like there is a new energy surrounding the team," Toalson said.
"It's a lot of fun" he said. "We're really coming together. We have a new life kind of."
With an offense that ranks last in the Big 12 in most categories, outings from pitchers like Wednesday's will help.
Edited by Anna Allen
Bottom of the first:
KEY MOMENTS
With a runner on first and one out, senior third baseman Zac Elgie hit a double deep down the left field line to score a run.
Bottom of the first:
With a runner on third and one out, red-shirt junior designated hitter Jordan Dreiling打 a sacrifice fly to center field to score the game's second run.
Bottom of the fourth:
With Dreiling on second and two outs, sophomore second baseman Ka'iana Eldredge hit a double down the right field line to score Dreiling and put the Jayhawks up 3-0.
Bottom of the skate milling:
With the bases loaded and one out, freshman outfielder Michael Suiter hit a single to left field, making the game 4-0.
Top of the ninth inning:
With a full count and two outs, freshman pitcher Taylor Rappaport struck out the last batter of the game looking on an outside fastball.
Bottom of the sixth inning:
GAME TO FORGET
Sophomore outfielder Tucker Tharp
He snapped a four-game hitting streak, going 0-2 with a
Tharp
walk. He was the only starting player to not record a hit, score a run or drive in a run. He was replaced by freshman outfielder Joe Moroney.
GAME TO REMEMBER
Morovick
Morovick missed his start last week with the flu. This week, he pitched his bes
Freshman pitcher Drew Morovick
game of the season. He threw 5.0 shutout innings and allowing only two hits. He also struck out two batters on the night. It was just the third time this season that he threw into the fifth inning.
Kansas
Saint Mary
JAYHAWK STAT LEADERS
Stolen Bases
Dreiling 1
At-bats
Kuntz 5
Strikeouts
Kohors 2
Morovick 2
KANSAS STARTERS
Player AB R H RBI BB
Michael Suiter LF 4 0 1 1 0
Kevin Kuntz SS 5 1 1 1 0
Zac Elgie 3B 4 1 1 1 0
Alex DeLeon C 1 0 1 0 2
Tucker Tharp CF 2 0 0 0 1
Jordan Dreiling DH 0 1 0 1 2
Jake Marasco 1B 2 1 0 0 1
Connor McKay RF 3 1 1 0 0
Ka'iana Eldredge 2B 4 0 1 1 0
Team totals 30 6 8 6 9
SAINT MARY STARTERS
Player AB R H RBI BB
Matt Corigliano LF 4 0 1 0 0
Jesse Castro CF 4 0 0 0 0
Devin Hupp SS 4 0 1 0 0
Joe Haak 1B 4 0 1 0 0
Trevor Matifes DH 4 0 1 0 0
Kevin Joyce 2B 3 0 0 0 0
Michael Ferracuti 3B 3 0 0 0 0
Travis Quick C 2 0 0 0 0 0
Jackson Perri RF 2 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 32 0 5 0 0
KEY STATS
906026
The number of hitters the Jayhawk pitching staff walked.
The number of Jayhawk hitters who walked in the game, tying the second highest total of the season.
The number of runs the jayhawks scored
The number of runs the Spires scored
The number of Jayhawks who played Wednesday night There are 33 players on the roster.
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