- SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Tuesday, April 20, 1993 9 Cornhuskers next for No.12 Jayhawks Sweep of Missouri four victories give 'Huskers momentum Although Nebraska's record may not reflect it, two teams on a roll are clashing at 7 tonight in Lincoln, Neb. when the Cornhuskers play host to No. 12 Kansas in the opening of a two-game series. By Brady Prauser Kansan sportswriter Nebraska, 16-16 overall and 6-7 in the Big Eight Conference, has won four of its last five games, including a weekend sweep of Missouri. The Jayhawks, 29-8, lead the confer ence with a 10-4 record, and have also won four of its last five. That worries Nebraska coach John Sanders. "Obviously they are doing well," Sanders said. "They are an experienced team. The seniors reflect that. Without question they are a great ball club." Senior David Soult, 5-1, will be the starting pitcher for Kansas. Junior Tom Berger, 2-5, will start for the Cornhuskers. Sanders said that despite his team's record, Nebraska had momentum entering tonight's game. "We're starting to put the pieces together," he said. "But we need to play with consistency and pitch to our capability. It starts and stops with pitching." Kansas coach Dave Bingham said Nebraska could not be overlooked. "The next game is the big one for us right now," he said. "They have a good club, although their record may not be indicative of that. They play a good schedule." But Bingham said he felt good entering the Nebraska series after winning two of three games against Iowa State here last weekend. The Jayhawks retained the same rankings they held in last week's three college baseball Top 25 polls. Kansas "Our attitude was to try to play some additional players," Bingham said. "We were able to get through the series playing some different people, and that will help us from a depth standpoint." is No. 12 in Baseball America, No. 11 in Collegiate Baseball and No. 12 in the USA Today/Baseball Weekly plu. After playing 23 of their last 29 games at home, Kansas plays seven of its next nine games on the road, including a three-game series this weekend at Missouri. But Bingham said he welcomed the road trip. "At times it is a little easier to play on the road because your routine is controlled more than at home," he said. "Once you get on the bus you control the players' routines more and how they prepare for the game." Kansas junior right-hander Chris Corn, 6.2, will face will face Nebraska senior right-hander Brian Martin tomorrow. Kansas baseball 29-8, (10-4) vs. Ku Nebraska Cornhuskers 16-16, (6-7) Jayhawks lineup avg. HR RBI 1. 2b Jeff Berlinberg 345 8 41 2. ss Dan Rude 293 4 48 2. bj John Wuycheck 364 1 28 2. bj Michael Kraig 374 6 18 3. cf Josh gohn 377 3 31 4. rf Rory Tarquino 398 4 33 4. brent Wielhelm 296 3 29 5. if fletcher 346 0 0 6. dh Alex King 340 2 0 Probable starting pitcher David Soult, 5-1 (4.72 ERA) For'Hawks pitcher, success is a relief By Brady Prauser Kansan sportswriter By Brady Prauser Stopper. Starter. Stopper Kansas senior pitcher Jimmy Walker has alternated roles during the last three seasons, but whether he starts the game or enters in late innings as a reliever, Walker is equally adept at either situation. Of Walker's team-high 26 appearances during his sophomore season, all but three were out of the bullpen, and he led the Jayhawks with eight victories. The right-hander also earned second team All-Big Eight Conference honors as a sophomore. Last season, Walker started in 14 of his 18 appearances. His six victories were the second most on the team and included two complete games. This season, however, Walker is back in the bullpen, where his seven saves lead the conference. His sixth save broke the single-season school record and his nine career save ties him with former pitcher Galen Worley's Kansas record. "He really is a solidifying force late in the ball game," said Kansas coach Dave Bingham. "He gives us a chance to score late and win." Win they have. The Jayhawks' 29-8 record is the best in program history. Last Sunday in Kansas' 11-3 victory here against Iowa State, Walker was in top form. He pitched the final three innings, allowing no hits, no earned runs and striking out four. But Walker said his save total was more a reflection of his teammates than himself. “It's a wonderful thing to have that record,” he said. “But we have great starting pitching that will get the game to me with a lead, and we have a great offense. You've got to hand it them for giving me the opportunity.” Walker, a pre-med major, also was honored as a Phillips 66 Classroom Champion last season, and was the valeidontorian of his high school class. wrig by injury, but augment as a sturgeon or struggle early was moved to the bullpen. "All of a sudden we found he pitched better there than in the starting role," Bingham said. "He's pitched very well as a reliever and has been inconsistent as a starter." Bingham said Walker might be more suited as a reliever because of the four-to-five day wait starters must endure between assignments. "He comes to the park ready to play every day," Bingham said. Kansas senior pitcher Jimmy Walker pitches in relief for the Jayhawks, Walker, who has been used as both a starter and reliever during his collegiate career, leads the Big Eight Conference in saves this season with seven. Doug Hesse / KANSAN Junior Stephen Williams pitches against Nebraska. The Jayhawks play host to Pittsburg State today at 3 p.m. Irene Lanier / KANSAN Nonconference foes to test winning streak Haack hopes hot bats continue to fuel Kansas By Mark Button By Mark Button Kansan sportswriter The Kansas softball team has strung together six-consecutive victories, and it will try to make it eight in a row today. The Jayhawks will play host to Pittsburg State today in a doubleheader at Jayhawk Field. The first game begins at 3 p.m. Pittsburg State comes in with a 33-4 record, but is an NCAA Division II school. The Jayhawks, 21-8-1 overall and 10-2 in the Big Eight Conference, are coming off a four-game sweep against conference rival Nebraska and a two-game sweep against Wichita State. Coach Kalum Haack, who had been disappointed with the team's intensity level, said he was happy with its performance against the Cornhuskers last weekend. Senior catcher Erin Wahaus went 10-for-11 in the Nebraska series, following up a 5-for-7 outing in the Wichita State twin bill. She is batting .833 during the Jayhawks' winning streak. She was also had nine RBI in the last four games, of which came in the midst of two-out rallies. Another Jayhawk who has been a difficult out for opponents is sophomore first baseman Lora Richardson. The Nebraska series put many Jay hawks on hot streaks. She pounded six singles and a double in 12 at bats in the Nebraska series, a 583 average. Haack was impressed with the performance of both Wahaus and Richardson. "Erin and Lora just crushed the ball." he said. "My record wouldn't suggest it, but I'm not pitching very well this year," said Williamus, who is 20-4. "I'm not at the caliber of pitching that I would want to be at this point." Williams, a second team All American last season, has claimed victories in her last five outings. However, she said she was displeased with her overall performance this season. Williams said although Pittsburg State was a Division II school they still would pose a challenge for Kansas. Another Jayhawk who has been unstoppable is junior pitcher Stephani Williams. Tomorrow, the Hawks will play host to Creighton in another doubleheader "Creighton has a good team," said Williams. "They're known for having big hitters." Kansan staff report KANSAS BRIEF S Kansas racquetball players earn national honors The Kansas Racquetball Club competed at the World Intercollegiate Racquetball Championships last weekend in Phoenix, where three of its members finished in the top three in their brackets. Last year, Kansas placed 13th at nationals. This year, the Jayhawks placed in the top 30 of the 72 teams. "We didn't do as well as last year because we had no women players." Crystal College, Brannon Hertel, Crystal Lake, Ill., sophomore, said that the tournament had two divisions, blue and gold. Games who win their first match go to the gold division, and the blue division is a consol Hertel won the bracket for No. 4 singles players in the blue division. As in collegiate tennis, teams field six singles players and three doubles pairs In the Racquetball Championships, the men and women's results are combined into one team total. lation bracket. Walters. Jordan to attend NBA prospect camp Kansas staff report Former Kansas guards Rex Walters and Adonis Jordan will begin play today in the Desert Classic, an NBA prospect camp in Phoenix. The camp lasts through Friday. They were invited to the camp that is designated for prospects likely to be drafted from the middle to the late first round or the second round of the season. The camp invited 36 players who are divided into four teams. Several players that Kansas faced this season are scheduled to attend, including Lucious Harris of Long Beach State, Lindsey Hunter of Jackson State and Gret Graham of Indiana. for the second consecutive season, Walters was named the Jayhawks' most valuable player. He led Kausas in scoring the past two seasons averaging 16 and 15 points per game respectively. Jordan finished his four-year career as Kansas' third all-time leader in assists and steals. Teams still haggling over Montana's value The Associated Press SANTA CLARA, Calif. — If Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers split, as expected, it promises to be a messy divorce. Montana, San Francisco's startling quarterback through the 1980s before missing virtually all of the past two seasons, dismissed as too little, too late the 49ers' offer to give him his old job and make a backup of Steve Young, last year's passenger and NLFMVP. Besides, Montana says he has made up his mind to accept an offer to play for Kansas City and has all but detached himself from the 49ers, the team he led to four Super Bowl titles. However, the 49ers and the Chiefs cannot agree on compensation for Montana, who has one year left on his contract. "In an effort to accommodate Joe, we had conversations with the Chiefs today...but to no avail," said 49ers president Carmen Policy yesterday. "Those conferences have broken off again." Policy said the Chiefs hadn't changed their earlier offer, but Kansas City president and general manager Carl Peterson disagreed. "I know what we gave, and we gave an awful lot," Peterson said. "We did have a lot of conversation today and frankly I thought that what I put on the table was more important than what I had before. I can say without equivocation that it's a very handsome offer." Since returning from a torn right elbow tendon Montana has been Still, the coach said Montana technically was the team's No. 1 quarterback. Neither Policy nor Seifert went into detail on Montana's reasons for declining the offer. Montana, who lost his job to Young during a two-year recovery from an elbow injury, turned down the 49ers' job offer earlier in the day during a meeting with Policy and Coach George Seifert. adamant that he had no desire to stay in San Francisco as a reserve. I two weeks ago, Montana began searching in earnest for a job elsesearch led Montana to embrace the Chiefs. Joe Montana On Friday, Montana agreed in principle on a 3-year contract with Karsas City, leaving the deal contingent on the Chiefs and 49ers to work out a trade. The $4ers re-entered the picture when owner Edward DeBartolo, during a meeting Saturday with Montana, offered him his old job. Seifert also called Montana and told him he had made a mistake in naming Young the undisputed starter and that he would designate Montana as the club's top quarterback heading into the 1993 training camp. "Think it's important to note that I never asked Mr. DeBartolo or anyone else from the 49ers organization to be named the starting quarterback," Montana said in the statement. "Earlier this year, I had hoped that I would have the opportunity to compete for the job this season. However, I was told in January that Steve Young would be the starter and I accepted the 49ers' position. "Due to this decision, the 40ers authorized me to work out an arrangement with another NFL team. Three days prior to my decision to go with the Kansas City Chiefs, once again the 40ers stated publicly there would be no open competition for the starting job. Although Mr. DeBartolo and I spoke on Saturday about finishing my career with the 48ers, it is not going to be possible based on the commitment I made to the Chiefs on Friday."