THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2012
BASEBALL
PAGE 3B
Taylor leads pitchers into another road weekend
ANDREW JOSEPH
ajoseph@kansan.com
The Kansas baseball team will hit the road for the UTSA Classic in San Antonio, its third consecutive weekend out of town.
The Jayhawks enter the weekend with a 5-2 record, coming off a dominating 14-1 victory over Mississippi Valley State. Despite the recent offensive flurry, the early focus around the Jayhawks continues to be on the pitching staff. Kansas' 1.37 ERA and .169 opponent batting average tops the Big 12 Conference through seven games.
Junior pitcher Thomas Taylor has been especially impressive. Taylor has yet to give up a run in 14 innings pitched, but his 1-0 record will be put to the test Sunday against undefeated,
7-0 Gonzaga.
The Bulldogs are one of the hottest teams in the country, but Taylor has no plans to change his approach.
"They're going to be good hitters just like everyone," Taylor said. "They're definitely hot right now, but
Taylor
Benjamin
I have a lot of confidence going into this game also. I am going to try to not think too much and just attack each hitter."
The Bulldogs plan to start their
best arm against the Jayhawks on Sunday. Senior right-hander Andy Hunter is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA, but it is his overpowering 12 strikeouts to just three walks that will put pressure on Kansas to execute offensively.
"Hunter is a big, strong, right-handed guy who throws 93-94, and he even hit two home runs when we played him two years ago," coach Ritch Price said. "They are a quality mid-major team; they are well-coached and have been successful for a long time."
The Jayhawks will also take on Texas-San Antonio and Louisiana Lafayette for the first two games of the weekend. Kansas' Friday night starter Frank Duncan looks to follow up his impressive performance against Mississippi Valley State last week with a strong outing against Texas-San Antonio. Duncan took a no-hitter into the seventh inning last Friday to
earn his second win of the season. The Road Runners are 6-3, and Friday's starter Casey Sensor will put his undefeated, 2-0 record to the test against Duncan.
Freshman
0. 68 ERA. While some would expect a freshman pitcher to struggle, catcher James Stanfield said that Benjamin looks more like a seasoned veteran on the
"I am going to try to not think too much and just attack each hitter."
THOMAS TAYLOR Pitcher
pitcher Wes Benjamin will face Louisiana Lafayette on Saturday. Benjamin has been outstanding through his first two collegiate starts, posting a 1-0 record and
mound.
"Wes has maturity beyond his years," catcher James Stanfield said. "He pitches like a junior out there."
This weekend's road trip will be the final series before the Jayhawks return to Hoglund Ballpark for the first home game of the season Tuesday afternoon against North Dakota.
A road-heavy schedule can often result in some early losses, but the Jayhawks said they embrace road trips as a time to build chemistry and prepare for the challenging Big 12 season.
"It helps out a lot with all of us sitting on the bus and in the hotel room hanging out," Taylor said. "We get to know each other a lot better than if we were just here and meeting at the field. It's been fun."
— Edited by Max Rothman
TRACK AND FIELD
Runners and pole vaulters try to qualify for nationals
MAX GOODWIN mggoodwin@kansan.com
Today is the last chance for track and field athletes to qualify for the NCAA National Championship meet. The Jayhawks that have been chosen to compete were separated into two groups. Half will compete at the Alex Wilson Invitational at the University Of Notre Dame, and half will compete in the Arkansas Qualifier at The University Of Arkansas.
In each track and field event there is a predetermined mark set for automatic qualification to the NCAA National Championship meet, and any athlete that achieves a mark as good or better than the automatic qualification mark earns the opportunity to compete in the NCAA National Championship.
In the Alex Wilson Invitational, coach Stanley Redwine has sent both men's and women's distance medley relay teams to compete. The men's 4x400-meter relay team will also run for a last chance to qualify. Senior Donny Wasinger and sophomore Josh Munsch are set to race in the mile race, senior Kyle Clemons will compete in the 400-meter, and senior Zach Zarda will run in the 3,000-meter race.
In Arkansas, the Jayhawks have athletes in the 800-meter races and pole vault competitions. In the men's 800, sophomores Nick Seckfort and Brendan Soucie will run and sophomore Maddy Rich will run the women's 800. Sophomore Demy Payne is ranked 19th in the nation for the pole vault and is close to the NCAA qualification mark. Sophomore Alex Bishop
and freshman Greg Lupton will also compete to improve their season best marks.
Six Jayhawks have already earned their way to nationals. The women's 4x400-relay team includes Danesha Morris, Taylor Washington, Diamond Dixon and Paris Daniels. Dixon has also qualified for the 400 meter race. Alena Krechyk will be at the nationals for the weight throw competition, and Andrea Geubelle has already qualified for the triple jump but will compete today at the Alex Wilson Invitational to qualify for the long jump competition.
Edited by Anna Allen
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