B / SPORTS / MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
KANSAS VS. TEXAS A&M
BASEBALL REWIND
Junior right fielder Casey Lytle looks up for a fly ball in right field. Kansas fell to Texas A&M 6-4 Friday night at Hoglund Ballpark in game two of the three game series.
BASEBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Robby Price, and once again in the 11th after the Aggies took an 8-7 edge - on a ball of all things.
The tendency of this Kansas team to mount comebacks and string together tough at-bats impressed Price.
But after tying the game twice late in the game, Kansas had opportunities to get a walk-off hit and failed to do so.
"I think the great thing for this group of guys is they really grind," Price said. "And they compete, and they don't give up."
"We had some big-time hits, but we just needed another big hit to put them away", Waters said.
And once the game reached the 2:15 'curfew' — a cutoff time which the teams had agreed upon because of A&M's travel arrangements — the Jayhawks didn't get another opportunity to walk-off with the victory.
The teams shook hands on the field, the Aggies packed onto their buses, but the Jayhawks remained in their dugout on the first base side — all of them visibly disappointed.
After the game, Robby Price said Kansas had nothing to be ashamed of after a series where it turned in three competitive performances against a top 25 team. But ultimately, his opening sentiments about the way the series ended were the most telling.
"Ties definitely suck," he said.
"There's no other way to say it.
Edited by Drew Anderson
Hats off to
Kansas' starting pitchers
Though they came into the series struggling of late, each of Kansas' top-three starters rebounded with strong performances which gave the team a chance to win. T.J. Walz was sharp for seven and one-third innings Thursday, Cameron Selik turned in six and two-thirds on Friday,
Price
Bollman
Lisher
1011 Massachusetts
OPEN TILL 3AM
785-856-2500 - phtapitusa.com
and Brett Bolman gutted out five innings of three-run ball on Saturday. Those are three big-time efforts from the Jayhawks' starters.
Price has been nearly unstoppable for Kansas at the plate. The senior went 7-of-13 with four RBI, five runs scored and two walks, and extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Many of Price's hits came in timely fashion, including his game-tying single with two outs in the ninth on Saturday.
Player to remember
Senior second baseman Robby Price
Player to forget
After an 0-for-8 showing in his two starts against the Aggies, Lisher (0-for-18) is now hitless in the Jayhawks five Big 12 games. Lisher hit into many tough-luck outs, blasting line drives directly at defenders. The senior entered conference play toting one of the hottest bats on the club, but because of the recent slide his average has dipped to .306.
Senior first baseman Brett Lisher
Selik
Walz
From the stat book
28
The Jayhawks certainly had their share of chances against the Aggies, stranding 28 runners on base for the
- with the purchase of a pita
- offer valid in store only
series - including 10 on Saturday that left them feeling like they had missed a prime opportunity for another victory.
Series notes
Team adds game
Kansas added a game to its home schedule, which will be played tomorrow (April 6) at 6 pm, when it hosts Missouri Valley College. The contest is a makeup for a game lost earlier this season due to weather.
Not quite himself (yet)
After going hitless in his first game back from injury, junior third baseman Tony Thompson collected eight hits over a six game stretch with four runs scored and nine RBI. But Thompson had a tough weekend from the plate against A&M, going 0-for-13 with two walks and two runs scored. Coach Price said Thompson is still working on getting his timing back at the plate.
"What's happening right now, I knew was going to happen", Price said. "It's still spring training for him."
Thompson
Free chips and a drink with purchase of regular sub*
1. GO TO KU ENROLL AND PAY. 2. ENROLL IN ENTR 301. 3. YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY TO STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
In perspective
Three hard fought games yielded only one victory for the Jayhawks, who were visibly disappointed after Saturday's finale. Friday's 6-4 setback was a hard-fought defeat, albeit one the Jayhawks can live with. But Saturday's 8-8 tie was a clear example of a missed opportunity for Kansas to earn a series victory, and a difficult way to end a competitive Big 12 series.
Ben Ward