4B
SPORTS / WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
BASEBALL REWIND
Valerie Skubal/KANSAN
Freshman Kevin Kuntz high-fives his teammates after driving in a run with a fielder's choice and avoiding the double play. The run put the Jayhawks in the lead in the bottom of the 8th inning against the University of Arkansas-Little Rock.
BASEBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
making it tough for the opposition to get us out," Robby Price said.
With junior regular closer Brett Bochy resting from his six-inning performance Sunday against Baylor, sophomore setup man Colton Murray was called from the bullpen to slam the door in the ninth.
Murray walked the first man he faced on four pitches, prompting
Little Rock to ask the next batter to bunt him over to second.
The batter bunted down the third base line, right to junior Tony Thompson, who gunned him out at first. But with Thompson ranging towards home plate to field the bunt, third base was left vacant.
The Trojans runner took notice and made a dash for third, right as
junior shortstop Brandon Macias raced to cover it. The runner and Macias got tangled up, allowing Thompson to get back to third in time to receive the throw from first baseman Brett Lisher and make the tag for the second out.
Coach Ritch Price said he had a clear view of the fiasco from his dugout on the first base side.
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There he is. Laa-vee. Voove.
Though the layhaws didn't play their best ball game, Price commended the resolve of his team for emerging from the 'trap game' victorious.
"They rebounded like a Top 25 ball club," Price said. "We had a chance to come from behind late, our best players were at the plate and those guys clutched up and got it done for us. They found a way to win a 9-8 game that we could have easily lost."
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Though the controversial call brought some additional drama to the ninth inning, Murray said he didn't feel any pressure.
"I love it," he said. "I live for it."
"Brandon started reacting, running ahead of him and the guy grabbed him," Price said.
Little Rock's coach Scott Norwood's vantage was not as clear, as he stormed out of the dugout demanding interference be called on Macias. The umpires didn't sway from their initial ruling in which they had called the runner out.
Murray said he wasn't worried about the call being reversed, but instead was merely anxious for Norwood to get off the field so he could finish the inning.
2 Blocks West of HyVee on Clinton Parkway.
— Edited by Kirsten Hudson
GAME NOTES
Hit the showers!
Comeback kids
University of Arkansas at Little Rock coach Scott Norwood was ejected in the ninth inning for his tirade following the controversial call in the infield. That marked the first ejection during one of Kansas' games this season—both for the Jayhawks and the opposition.
Tuesday's rally was the fifth time in Kansas' last six games that it erased a deficit late in the game. The Jayhawks are 4-1 in those five contests, with the only loss coming on March 27 against Baylor.
KEY INNING
Bottom of the seventh
After struggling for most of the game with runners on base, the Jayhawks finally broke through, plating five runs, recapturing the lead. With the bases loaded, two men out and one run across, Robby Price slapped a two-RBI double to right field, and Heere followed with a single to center to plate two more runs and give Kansas the O Bodge
GAME TO REMEMBER
Junior center fielder Brian Heere
Heere led Kansas with three hits - including the biggest one of the afternoon. With runners on second and third with two outs in the seventh inning, Heere worked a seven pitch at-bat before driving them both home with a bloop single to center.
Heere
GAMETO FORGET
Redshirt freshman Thomas Taylor
Taylor only lasted four and two-thirds innings for Kansas, who needed a longer outing out of the youngster to rest its tired bullpen. Taylor has shown flashes this season, but has been inconsistent in finding the strike zone. He walked three batters, hit two more and allowed a total of eight batters to reach base after getting ahead in the count with two strikes.
Taylor
Price
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"He's too talented not to be able to finish hit ters off who have two strikes," coach Price said about Taylor."He has got to improve his breaking ball and the command of his fastball when he is ahead in the count."
STAT OF THE NIGHT
6-21
At first glance, nine runs is nice, but the Jayhawks let many other opportunities go to waste. Kansas was 6-21 with runners on base and 3-13 with runners in scoring position—failing to fully capitalize on its 11 hits and 11 walks.
The Jayhawks scored eight or more runs for the fifth-straight game which doesn't quite overshadow the fourth-straight shaky start from their pitching staff. Because Price will use a plethora of arms this evening to allow his staff time to rest, the next opportunity for Kansas' starters to return to form is Thursday against Texas A&M. Coach Price said after the game that the Jayhawks have to pitch better, and can't always rely on late-game rallies to pull out wins.
IN PERSPECTIVE