8B
BASEBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY APRIL 4, 2007
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2007
First inning dooms Kansas
Wildcats' five-run frame too much for Jayhawks to overcome
BY ALISSA BAUER
MANHATTAN — Coach Ritch Price was curtous about the temperature after Tuesday's 10-6 loss to Kansas State. His guess of 20 degrees wasn't far from the actual mid-30s his team played in for the nearly four-hour game.
"That's the coldest, windiest game I've ever played in," Price said. "I'm surprised the guys were even able to throw strikes."
It certainly was a struggle.
"It is tough when we get a lead, like we did to start the game, and give it up right away."
Price's starting pitcher, Andres Esquibel, didn't even make it out of the first inning. The Wildcats hung five runs on Esquibel in the opening frame.
Price thought the cold weather and wind had an effect on Esquibel's performance.
"I think that's the first time he's had a chance to pitch when it's just freezing cold," Price said. "Being from California, obviously, I don't think he had a very good feel for the baseball. That's the first time he's been wild since he's been with us."
game's momentum their way on a two-out rally that included two hits, a walk and a Wildcat error.
With two outs and two on, junior second baseman Ryne Price soared a pop-up over K-State shortstop Eli Rumler. A run scored when Rumler dropped the ball, and the third run of the inning scored on sophomore catcher Buck Afenir's single that followed.
In the top half of the first, Kansas looked as if the series loss to Missouri was long forgotten. The Jayhawks swung the
That three-run advantage that Esquibel started with didn't mean much after the Wildcats posted five runs in the bottom of the first. The junior right-hander didn't even record an out as he walked four of the six batters he faced.
KYLE MURPHY
Senior center fielder
The 52- minute first inning set the tone for the long night to follow. The in-state rivals racked up eight runs and six hits between them in the opening inning.
Three straight base hits and a pair of walks in the bottom of the second spread the Wildcat lead to 7-3.
Showing the same rally power they did against the Tigers last weekend, the Jayhawks scored a pair of their own in their next at-bat. Starter Todd Vogel also struggled with walks, walking junior left fielder John Allman and sophomore first baseman Preston Land to lead off the third.
Afenir's single in the top of the third not only scored Land, but also marked his third multi-hit game in the last four.
Although Kansas reliever
Kansas State 10, Kansas 6
Kansas 302 001 000 — 69 0
Kansas State 520 100 02 — 10 14 3
Andres Esquebel, Matt Lane (1)
Ryotaro Hayakawa (3), Hilari Garcia
and Afenir; Todd Vogel, Tyler Ruch (5), Justin Murray (7), Daniel Edwards (8) and Rob Waughn. W
Ruch (2-0), L — Esquibel (4-3), S
- Ruch (2-0), L - Esquibel (4-3), S -
Edwards (9), 2B - KUJ. John Alman,
Preston, Ryne Price; KSU;
Eulr Land.
Records — Kansas State 21-8, Kansas 16-18.
Ryotaro Hayakawa loaded the bases in K-State's half of the fourth, just one scored. In fact, the Wildcats left 11 runners on base Tuesday night.
The Jayhawks also stranded 11 runners, but left them when it counted. Kansas narrowed the gap to 8-6 in the sixth but wouldn't score again. Two Wildcat singles followed by a double down the left field line scored the final pair of runs, closing the door on any Jayhawk comeback.
"It is tough when we get a lead, like we did to start the game, and give it up right away," senior center fielder Kyle Murphy said. "But it's not out of our control right now, we're just going to have to keep putting runs up."
Kansas will play Kansas Wesleyan University (9-18, 3-5 KCAC) today. The first pitch is scheduled for 4.p.m.at Hoglund Ballpark.
Kansan sportswriter Alissa Bauer can be contacted at abauer@kansan.com.
Edited by Ryan Schneider
Sarah Leonard/KANSAN
Esquibel set the tone for the Kansas pitching staff by failing to make it out of the first inning. In fact, he didn't even record an out. He was charged with five earned runs for his efforts and his ERA ballooned from 4.93 to 6.10.
Esquibel seemed to take an eternity earning his infinite ERA, walking four of the six batters he faced. Junior right-hander Matt Lane managed to stop the bleeding. Forty-eight minutes after the first pitch, the first Wildcat batter was retired.
Garcia pitched effectively, striking out four while allowing only four hits and no walks. Despite being his first long outing, throwing 70 pitches, he welcomed the challenge.
Junior Hiarali Garcia had the longest and most effective outing of any Jayhawk. He lasted 4 2/3 innings — more than doubling his previous season-long outing of two innings — and the only two runs he allowed came in his last inning of work when fatigue set in.
game expecting to happen," Price said. "We thought Esquibel would give us his normal five-to-six innings, then we'd use Hiarali for two and finish off with Smyth. That was our plan but we obviously didn't make it out of the first inning."
BY SHAWN SHROYER
Extended first inning ruins Jayhawks' opportunity for victory against Wildcats
Entering Tuesday, coach Ritch Price had planned on using only junior starting pitcher Andres Esquibel and relieving him with junior Hiarali Garcia and sophomore closer Paul Smyth.
Freshman third baseman Robby Price bunts down the third-base line in the first inning against the Wildcats.
MANHATTAN — For a Kansas team slated to play eight games over a nine-day span. Tuesday's game was the last thing the Jayhawks needed.
In addition to the 10-6 loss, Kansas spent nearly four hours at Kansas State's Tointon Stadium on Tuesday night, using four of its seven available pitchers to complete nine innings.
"That's what we came into the
"It kind of came second-nature because I've always been a starter at other levels," Garcia said. "I just let the adrenaline and want to win take over."
"I think we'll be fine," Price said. "Obviously we didn't use Smyth tonight and Esquibel and Hiarali will be able to bounce back on Friday without any problems at all."
As a result of tight scheduling, Kansas' only off day between last Friday and this Saturday was on Monday, but Price wasn't worried about his staff.
Sarah Leonard/KANSAN
Sophomore first baseman Preston Land catches the ball for a tag at first base. Kansas lost 10-6 Tuesday night in Manhattan.
Kansan sportswriter Shawn
Shroyer can be contacted at
sshroyer@kansan.com.
Edited by James Pinick
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