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Kyriacou leads KU to blowout home-opener win
▶ WESLEY DOTSON
@WesDotsonUDK
Freshman first baseman David Kyriacou rounds second base against Omaha on Feb. 21. The Jayhawks defeated the Mavericks 11-1.
Missy Minear/KANSAN
Sophomore infielder David Kyriacou produced red-hot production on a warm Tuesday afternoon in Hoglund Ballpark.
Kyriacou was the star of Kansas baseball's offense, which contributed 11 runs on 15 hits and propelled the team to a home-opening 11-1 win over Nebraska-Omaha.
The offense received excellent contribution from Kyriacou, who went 3-for-5, including a triple and two RBJs.
"The biggest key for me at the plate today was to just stay focused and relaxed," Kyriacou said. "Just trying to help my team get a 'W.'"
After four games this season, Kyriacou already has eight hits, one more than he did all of last season.
The biggest key for me at the plate today was to just stay focused and relaxed."
David Kyriacou
Sophomore Infielder
"This offseason the biggest improvement for me has just [been] really trusting in the process and trusting in what all of our coaches are trying to give to us," Kyriacou said. "Just tryin'
to be consistent every day."
Kyriacou, who started at first base against Omaha (1-4), said he is still trying to adjust to playing the position, though he did play it a bit last season. Kansas will look to him and junior first baseman Owen Taylor to fill the void after the loss of infielder Ryan Pidhaichuk, who graduated after last season.
"My primary position is middle infield," Kyriacou said. "I think I'm getting the hang of it. It's definitely a new position but I'm trying to make the most of it."
The win marked the second-straight year. Kansas (2-2) opened the season with a victory at home in February. The team held a 15-12-1 record at home last season, and is seeking to
mag
improve on that ledger in 2017.
"We have to win at home," Kansas coach Ritch Price said after the game. "That's one of the things we preach to our players. When teams come in here — especially your midweek games — you have to win your midweek games as a Power 5 conference if you want to make the NCAA
tournament."
Kansas' best offensive output on the afternoon came in the second inning, when the team scored five runs. That would prove to be all the Jayhawks would need.
Kyriacou was one of the first to begin the rally when he smacked a two-run single through the right side to extend a Jayhawks lead to
3-0 at the time.
Kansas will next travel to California to take on Stanford over the weekend for a three-game set. When the team returns home to Lawrence, it will host Oral Roberts for a midweek game on Feb. 28. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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