6B
SPORTS / WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
BASEBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
were resolved to play on.
"Skip's good about getting a window," junior outfielder Brian Heere said. "He's always saying 'We've got a window boys,' so you've always got to be mentally ready to play no matter what."
Ready the Jayhawks were,
shelling every pitcher the Spires
sent to the mound. Heere did most of the damage for Kansas, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a triple and four RBIs before being taken out of the lineup once the game was out of hand.
Because the opposing pitchers didn't provide much of a challenge for Kansas' batters, the real
theme of the day was the progress made by Poppe.
"He really filled up the zone and let his defense play behind him," Heere said. "He took a huge step forward."
- Edited by Drew Anderson
Game notes
With the victory, coach Price notched number 250 at the helm, passing Dave Bingham, and moving into second place all-time in Kansas baseball history. Price still sits behind Kansas baseball legend Floyd Temple, who had 438 wins.
"I'm just proud of the job our staff has done since we came here, and the progress we've made with our program," Price said. "Certainly I have great respect for Floyd Temple, and he's one of my favorite people I've ever met in the game, and when I get to him - that one will be special."
Jordan Dreiling made his first start of the season at third base, after making six
appearances at the hot corner as a defensive replacement. The Free State product went
2-5 from the plate, with a double and two RBI and a run scored. Dreiling also showed why coach Price lauds his defensive abilities. On one play in particular, Dreiling charged a slow roller, picked it up with a bare-hand and fired a strike to first, recording the out.
Dreiling
Because of the lopsided score, coach Price was able to give virtually every member of his bench some extended playing time.
Most notable was redshirt sophomore Nolan Mansfield, who logged his first action as a Jayhawk. After taking over defensively in left field in the seventh, Mansfield led off the eighth with a ringing double off the fence for his first collegiate hit.
One replacement made for quite the oddity. In the bottom of the fifth, senior pitcher Travis Blankenship was inserted into the game as a pinch runner for sophomore James Stanfield. When the next batter, Dreiling, ripped a double down the first base line, Blankenship scampered home and tallied a rare run scored.
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
Senior pitcher Thomas Marcin fires the ball in the ninth inning Tuesday. The Jayhawks defeated Saint Mary 10-0.
After Iowa's game Taylor needs to prove his worth
Taylor needs to show he has got the goods against Tabor
BASEBALL
BY ANDREW HAMMOND
ahammond@kansan.com
In its second back-to-back game this week, Kansas will start redshirt freshman Thomas Taylor at home against Tabor at 3 p.m. today. Taylor is hoping to improve on a high ERA of 8.44 in five innings of work and two no decisions so far in 2010.
"Hopefully he can take command of the strike zone a lot better than he did against Iowa," coach Ritch Price said.
Sunday, Taylor pitched two innings and allowed one hit against Iowa. He struck out two batters
but struggled starting in the third inning. He ended up walking four straight batters in the inning and ended his day earlier than expected.
"The biggest thing for me is throw strikes, calm down, relax and just having confidence in myself and in my pitches," Taylor said.
Taylor will try to build on the success of Tanner Poppe who got the win versus St. Mary's Tuesday.
One thing that did help Taylor through
problem right now. I'm beating myself."
"Hopefully he can take command of the strike zone a lot better than he did against Iowa."
the first two innings was the hot start that the Jayhawks got off to against the Hawkeyes. The offense has been red-hot lately and Taylor hopes to watch that trend roll on when he goes to the mound today.
RITCH PRICE
Coach
"Our hitters are doing awesome so far and have played well," Taylor said. "It's me that's the biggest
Once again, the Jayhawks will be facing a non-Division 1 opponent, this time Tabor College from Hillsboro. Mark Staniford is the Blue Jays' coach.
Tabor comes in with a record
of 9-5 on the season. The Blue Jays are undefeated on the road this season and sport a batting average of .350. Their pitchers come into the match-up with a 4.12 ERA.
— Edited by Kate Larrabee