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SPORTS FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
TENNIS
Jayhawks head back on the road
BY KATHLEEN GIER
kgier@kansan.com
twitter.com/kgier
The Kansas women's tennis team returns to the road to play in New Orleans after a pair of road victories last week. The fayhawks will play against Tulane and the University of New Orleans.
Senior Kuni Dorn attributed her team's success this past week end to team unity.
"I think our team chemistry is awesome and how we cheer each other on," Dorn said. "It is not about us being the better players, but actually I think the support we give each other helps us do everything."
The Jayhawks rallied around sophomore Kate Morozova as she was the deciding match in their 4-3 victory against New Mexico State on Saturday.
Dorn won her singles match to tie the overall match at 3-3.
"I didn't even know what the
score was so I was like. I am going to play', and the coaches were
yelling so I knew I needed to win." Dorn said. "So I won and then we all went to cheer on Kate."
Dorn
After that match the Jay hawks took a bus ride
down to the University of Texas at El Paso and won 4-1 after some matches were cancelled because of weather.
"It was the first time we have played outside in a couple of months and it was windy and the rain delay made it difficult to get into a group, but I think it was really important for us to win those matches," sophomore Maria Martinez said. "Under difficult circumstances we were able to pull it off and stay strong. That gives us confidence."
After winning both singles matches this weekend, Martinez increased her win streak to four matches.
Last weekend's victories improved Kansas' record to 5-3.
"It is definitely a good feeling," Martinez said. "You get into a habit and at any moment you feel like you have the capacity to win a match."
"I am pretty sure that we got a lot of confidence beating these two teams." Dorn said. "Everyone has confidence in themselves and wants to win two matches again."
This weekend's matches are both set for noon. On Saturday Kansas will play Tulane and then Sunday it continues against New Orleans. This weekend wraps up a three-weekend stretch on the road.
Edited by Taylor Bern
SOFTBALL
Kansas seeks opening win
BY ZACH GETZ
zgetz@kansan.com
twitter.com/zgetz
In the fourth week of the season, the Kansas softball team is still looking for its first victory on the opening day of a tournament. The lajyhawks are 7-8 for the season but 0-6 in tournament opening games. Coach Megan Smith said some of the record is from who Kansas has played in the first day, including No.10 Florida,No.17 Louisville and No.23 Kentucky.
Kansas will try for its first opening-day victory this week in
"We're not as sharp as we should be on the opening days, but we are also playing our best competition on the first days of the tournament." Smith said.
the Coach B Classic in Carbon dale, Ill.
Consistency has been a problem
all season and Kansas needs to focus on the little things and fundamentals, Smith said.
"We'll have a game where we'll make every routine
Jobe
play, and then we'll have a game that we'll miss a ground ball hit right at us," Smith said.
The team has been working hard to use the lessons learned in practice for when it plays a game, senior first baseman Amanda Jobe said.
"I'm trying to take what I'm doing in practice and taking that into the game and being consistent with it," Jobe said. "I'm just trying to build from game to game and from weekend to weekend to improve my game."
Freshman pitcher and outfielder Alex Jones said she has seen the team progressing since the beginning of the season.
"Every week we learn something new that is either strength or weakness that we need to focus on." Jones said.
The Coach B Classic will end a 19-game road trip, and Kansas' home opener will be on March 11 when Kansas will host the KU Invitational.
Edited by Kelly Gibson
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Team set for home debut
BASEBALL
KU looks forward to Hoglund after going 25-3 there last year
Senior second baseman Robby Price makes athrow in a game against Baylor last Spring. Price will lead the Jayhawks as they play their first home game of the season this afternoon against the Iowa Hawkeyes.
BY BEN WARD
bward@kansan.com
bword.com/bm_dub
After nearly a monthlong wait, Kansas will finally play its first game at Hoglund Ballpark this season, when it hosts Iowa this afternoon at 1 p.m.
The lahaywars are eager to get back on the field where they were 25-3 a season ago — by percentage, the best home record in the Big 12.
Weston White/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
"It's a real home field advantage," senior second baseman Robby Price said. "We all love playing here."
And there's no better place for the Jayhawks to do just that than Hoglund.
Even as the lajahaws prepare to play their first home games of the season, threats of weather have again reared their ugly head and altered the weekend's plans.
A doubleheader was initially scheduled for Saturday, but was moved to this afternoon due to forecasts of rain. Kansas will only play one game on Saturday now, trying to squeeze it in before storm clouds make their way over Lawrence.
Forecast aside, the Jayhawks also have to shake off Tuesday's disappointing outing in Arkansas, where they walked 14 Razorback batters in a 15-3 defeat. Price said though the game was a disappointment, Kansas won't dwell on the loss.
"It's over with." Price said. "We just have to make some adjustments, improve, and keep on
"Any time you're able to get outside you have to make the most of it." Price said. "Definitely with this weather, it should be a good week—and for us, it's be a good time."
going."
Edited by Cory Bunting
KANSAS (4-2) VS.
IOWA (3-2)
Friday - doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. (Second game will start roughly 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game One)
Saturday - 1 p.m.
Sunday - 1 p.m
SCOUTING IOWA
After a successful 2-1 weekend in the Big Ten/Big East Challenge, the Iowa Hawkeyes come into Lawrence for a four-game set against the Jayhawks. lowa comes in with a record of 3-2 on the season and looks to get their first win over Kansas for head coach Jack Dahm. The team has been inconsistent through the first five games of the season. They've had problems with errors early on.
Pitching: Game One starter Jarred Hippen went 8 2/3 innings in a win versus Rutgers last Friday. Last week in the Big Ten/Big East Challenge, the bullpen pitched for 6 2/3 innings with Kevin Lee picking up his second save of the season.
Hitting: Iowa's bats have been active this season. They have outfit all five opponents they have faced this season. The key player in the Hawkeyes' lineup is Kurtis Muller. He was 5-for-10 in the Big 10/Big East Challenge and is currently on a 16-game hitting streak which stems all the way back to the 2009 season.
Fielding: KU could definitely get off to a good start if Iowa has their fielding struggles that they have had so far in 2010. The Hawkeyes had eight errors in three games in the Big 10/ Big East Challenge. The starting infield does have experience heading into this weekend series. If the Hawkeyes are playing well defensively and have the lead after the fifth inning, they are 3-0 this season.
Walz has been solid in his two starts thus far, going 1-1 while notching 11 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched. The Omaha, Neb., product has allowed only four runs, but the 14 total hits is a number he'll have to reduce. As Kansas' Friday pitcher Walz will need to have his best stuff going forward, as he'll be matched up against the opposition's top arm.
2B - senior Robby Price
After a quiet start from the plate, Price is quickly improving his offensive production. Currently on a three-game hitting streak, the lone senior starter is now 5-for-19 at the plate, but has also reached base twice on walks, and five times by getting hit by a pitch. The hits should continue to mount up for Price, a career .292 hitter as a Jaihawk.
■ Kansas will add a pair of home games to make up for contests lost earlier in the season due to weather. The Jayhawks will host the University of Saint Mary on Tuesday, March 9 at 3 p.m., as well as Baker University on Wednesday, March 24 at 6 p.m.
KANSAS PLAYERS TO WATCH:
SP - junior T.J. Walz
NEWS AND NOTES:
■ James Stanfield, who tweaked his hamstring in Kansas' Feb. 27 victory over Sacramento State, was suited up for practice on Thursday. Though Stanfield was out of the lineup on Monday against Arkansas, coach Ritch Price said Stanfield may see time over the weekend, but added that he would play it cautiously, as hamstring injuries have a tendency to linger if not fully healed.
- In other injury news, Kansas received good news regarding junior third baseman Tony Thompson. X-rays taken on Tuesday revealed the hairline fracture in Thompson's left knee has begun to heal. Coach Price hopes that with the healing process started, Thompson will be back within two weeks or so
Redshirt freshman Thomas Taylor looks to secure his grasp on the spot as Kansas' fourth starter. After three solid innings in his first career action, Taylor will get the ball to begin Sunday's outing.
"We're hoping he'll give us six innings and pitch between 80 and 100 pitches," Ritch Price said.
Especially while sophomore Lee Ridenhour remains side-lined, any production Taylor can provide the Jayhawks with is needed.
Andrew Hammond and Ben Ward
MLB
Rangers rout Royals in spring opener
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Matt Brown each hit a three-run homer and Rich Harden pitched two innings of one-hit ball in his Texas debut, leading the Rangers to a 13-3 rout of the Kansas City Royals on Thursday.
The Rangers pounded five KC pitchers for 21 hits in the spring opener for both clubs. Mitch Moreland was 3 for 3 with two RBIs.
Harden, who signed a one-year contract with the Rangers and is expected to be their opening day starter, had one walk and one strikeout and gave up only Scott Podsednik's leadoff single in the first. The one run off him was unearned.
Associated Press