Sports
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KU
Tomorrow Full coverage of today's open football practice.
The University Daily Kansan
12A
Monday, April 5, 2004
Sooners sweep 'Hawks
Pitching, defense keep Jayhawks' offense quiet
By Ryan Colaiani
rcolaiani@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Amanda Kim Stairrett/Kansan
Oklahoma came to Hoglund Ballpark for a three-game series this weekend touting one of the best pitching staffs in the Big 12 conference.
That pitching silenced the Kansas hitters as the Sooners swept the Jayhawks three games to none. The Jayhawks record dropped to 22-14-1 overall and 1-5 in conference play.
"We are in the midst of ten games against people who are all ranked in the top ten." coach Ritch Price said. "If we keep playing through it and take care of ourselves we will be fine, but it is going to take maturity on our club's part."
The 1-5 conference record puts the Jayhawks in last place in the conference with the 9th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies coming in next weekend. The Jayhawks are not worried about their confidence.
"There is too much senior leadership on this team to really let the other guys get down," senior Ryan Baty said.
The Hawks scored just eight runs the entire weekend. Coming into the series the team was averaging just fewer than nine runs per contest.
"OU has one of the best pitching staffs in the conference and they showed it," first baseman Ryan Baty said. "They were outstanding the entire weekend."
Former Kansas player and coach Floyd Temple attempted to give back an Oklahoma hat to Oklahoma head coach Larry Cochell before Saturday's game. Temple's jersey was retired by the Jayhawks in 1992 and he was honored with a permanent display at Hoglund Ballpark. After Temple threw out the first pitch, Cochell ran out and put the hat on Temple's head.
Amanda Kim Stairrett/Kansan
Diving grabs by third baseman Matt Bose saved runs the entire weekend.
Another reason runs were down was a strong defensive effort by the Sooners.
"The difference in why they won the one run games was how well they played defensively." Price said.
In the series finale yesterday Kansas starting pitcher Mike Zagurski pitched six innings and allowed just two earned runs.
However, an error by left fielder Andy Scholl led to three unearned runs and gave the Sooners a 5-0 lead. The
Kansas sophomore infielder Ritchie Price waited for a pitch as Sean Richardson and Ryan Baty warmed up on deck and in the hole during the fourth inning of Saturday's 5-4 loss to Oklahoma. Price walked, Richardson filed out to left field and Baty filed out to right field.
SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 8A
Pitching leads way for 'Hawks
Megan True/Kensan
Jessica Moppin, Olathe sophomore, attempted to catch a throw from first baseman Leah Mountain during yesterday's game against Texas Tech. Moppin had a home run in the fourth inning to help the Jayhawks win 4-1. Kansas swept Texas Tech in the two-game series.
Starters combine to strike out 22 batters
By Jonathan Kealing jkealing@kansan.com Kansas sportswriter
Kansas coach Tracy Bunge says that hitting is contagious. If that's true, the team was catching it all day Sunday.
Kansas (23-16-1, 2-3 Big 12) played a two game series against the Texas Tech Red Raiders (19-22, 1-3 Big 12) this weekend and won both games.
"We don't really plan on going out there and throwing strikeouts." Humphreys said. "In all honesty, I'm not a strikeout pitcher."
Sunday, the Jayhawks defeated the Red Raiders 4-1 behind the pitching of freshman Kassie Humphreys. Humphreys recorded a career-high 13 strikeouts in the victory.
of the third, when sophomore shortstop Destiny Frankenstein lined to right field. Senior catcher Dani May, who had taken advantage of a error in the field to reach base and then stole second base, was driven-in by Frankenstein's hit for the first run of the game.
In the fourth, sophomore second basemen Jessica Moppin pounded one over the left field fence for a solo home run.
Kansas started scoring in the bottom
"We've been talking about me going up there and having a plan," Moppin said. "I have a thing called yes-yes-no, where its no if it a ball. That pitch was ves-ves-ves. A meatball."
Texas Tech retaliated in the fifth with one run after freshman first basemen Brandy Moulin drew a walk.
SEE SOFTBALL ON PAGE 8A
TRACK
Shotputter highlights meet with event title
By Michael Phillips mphillips@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
Kansas turned in some strong performances Friday and Saturday at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin, Texas. The relays were highlighted by freshman shotputter Gavin Ball's section B title.
Ball's shot put of 59-feet-2.25 inches won the Section B title and was NCAA
an NCAA regional qualifying mark.
Coach Stanley Redwine was impressed with Ball's effort. The winning throw came on Ball's last attempt.
The throw broke Ball's previous-best
Redwine
mark of 54-feet-11.25-inches, which was set last weekend at Emporia State.
Friday, Junior Abraham Kimeli ran the 1500-meter run in 3:48:99 to finish third.
Also on Friday, junior Dan Ferguson finished 11th in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:21.93.
Chris Jones finished fifth in the 5000-meter run with a time of 14:52.23.
Saturday, the Jayhawks were led by iuniors once again.
He was followed by teammate D.J. Hilding, whose time of 15:20.03 placed him 15th.
In the high jump, Brett Terp recorded a tenth place finish with his mark of 6-feet-6.75-inches.
For the women, the distance medley relay team finished seventh with a time of 11:39.81.
Team members were Laura Lavoie, Octavia Garrett, Kim Clark and Megan Manthe.
The team will host the Kansas Relays in two weeks, but Coach Redwine wants to keep the focus on next weekend.
"We have a meet this weekend as well, so we'll try to take it day by day," he said.
The team will compete next Friday and Saturday at the John McDonnell Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.
- Edited by Ashlev Arnold
Team gains Big 12 victory
Sophomore Christine Skoda moves her winning streak to five straight
By Rahul Sharma
rsharma@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas women's tennis team won their third conference match of the season as they defeated visiting Iowa State on Saturday, 5-2, at the Robinson Courts in Lawrence.
The Jayhawks converted on two of three doubles matches as senior Emily Haylock and freshman Ashley Filberth teamed up to defeat Cyclone freshman Jill Palen and sophomore Elizabeth Carmel, 8-3. With the victory, the Jayhawks moved their record to 5-10 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12 Conference.
In the number three slot, reigning Big 12 player of the week Christine Skoda, and freshman Brittany Brown extended their doubles winning streak to seven wins as they ousted freshman Danielle Uscinski and sophomore Charlotte Ljungkrantz, 8-2.
Kansas dominated the singles competition, winning four of six matches. Senior Emily Haylack cruised to a straight set victory over Iowa State's Evangelina Soriano, 6-4, 6-2. Sophomore Christine Skoda continued
Haylock
Filberth
to impress coaches, as she defeated Jill Palen in the number three match, 6-4, 6-2. Skoda has won five straight singles matches.
Jayhawk senior Kristen Steinbock had no trouble with Elizabeth Chermel, winning in straight set fashion, 6-3, 6-1. Also, freshman Brittany Brown defeated Danielle Uscinski, 6-4, 6-2.
"Our girls really have that competitive edge going," coach Amy Hall said. "It is good to see we are working out all of the kinks."
Senior Courtney Steinbock sustained an ankle injury in her singles match against senior Sabrina Evers in the match of top seeds. Steinbock, who is one of three seniors on the team, was forced to withdraw after winning the
"Our girls really have that competitive edge. It is good to see we are working out all of the kinks"
Amy Hall
Amy Hall Women's tennis head coach
first set in a tie-break, Steinbock is listed as day-to-day.
The Jayhawks continue action today at the Robinson Courts in Lawrence against the 15th ranked Oklahoma Sooners.
Coach Hall thought that Oklahoma would be on top of their game.
"Oklahoma will be a thought team and hopefully we will be ready," Hall said.
The Sooners are coming off a 6-1 victory against Kansas State in Manhattan.
The Sooners are led by junior Anda Perianu. The native of Romania posts a (23-3) singles record and is currently the 6th ranked player in the country.
---Edited by Paul Kramer
Amanda Kim Stairrott/Kansan
Sophomore Christine Skoda served during a doubles match against Iowa State on Saturday, Skoda and her partner, freshman Brittany Brown, won their seventh straight match, 8-2. Kansas defeated Iowa State 5-2 by winning two of three doubles matches and four of six singles matches. Skoda also went on to win her fifth straight singles match, 6-4 and 6-2.
TALK TO SPORTS: Contact Henry C. Jackson or Maggie Newcomer at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM
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