THE UNIVERSITY OF DARLING KANSAN
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2008
SPORTS
7B
BASEBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
slow down when you're in the box"
now down when you're in the box.
Faune and sophomore second baseman Robby Price both tacked on RBI singles that put the Hawks up by four runs. Faune had a successful day from behind the plate going 2 for 3, with a RBI and a walk.
The jayhawks' big inning that included four hits and four runs proved to be enough to distance themselves from the Ravens and improve their record to 18-9 on the season.
The Hawks got two strong pitching performances from senior pitcher Hiarali Garcia and freshman pitcher T.J. Walz. Walz picked up his second win of the year in relief, throwing five and a third innings. He struck out six while surrendering one hit and allowing no runs. After a slow start to the season, Walz built off his last two strong performances and gained moment-
"I felt like I had good command on my fastball and my slider and curvebelt were both breaking pretty well," Walz said. "I was pretty nervous in my first couple outings and I have loosened up and am having more fun and gaining confidence."
tum going into the Texas A&M series starting Friday.
"This is a big weekend for us," Allman said. "We need to get back to .500 and if we can come out and pitch well and hit well, good things are going to happen for us."
The Jayhawks will play their second Big 12 series of the season, hosting the Texas A&M Aggies starting Friday at 4 p.m.
The depth to the pitching staff is something the Jayhawks will need to continue to rely on, as the Big 12 is the strongest it has been in awhile.
Edited by Mandy Earles
game one
Bottom 3: Freshman designated hitter Casey Lyle led the inning off, reaching first base on an error. After Lytle moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Nick Faunche, he scored on a single through the right side by senior left fielder John Allman to give Kansas a 1-1 lead.
Top 4: Sophomore left-hander Shaefer Hall retires the side in order on just four pitches.
Bottom 4: Junior first baseman Preston Land was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and scored when Chicago State pitcher Colin Marshall overthrew first base on a sacrifice bunt by senior third baseman Matt Berner. Berner reached third base on the play and scored on a wild pitch. Faunce tripped later in the inning and scored Kansas' final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by sophomore second baseman Robby Price, putting Kansas up, 4-0.
Top 5: Hall completed the final inning
of his outing, striking out his fifth batter in as many innings. Hall shut out the Cougars over five innings, allowing just two hits and two walks in 67 pitches.
Bottom 5: Kansas capitalized on four walks and a hit batsman to score seven runs, adding four hits to the mix, as 12 Jayhawks came to the plate in the inning. Kansas added one more run while the bullpen held Chicago State off the board.
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 R H E
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 6 4
0 0 1 3
7 0 1 0
- 12 10 0
WP - Shaeffer Hall (2-1)
LP - Chris Goya (0-2)
—Shawn Shroyer
Starter's shoulder injury strains bullpen
》BASEBALL
BY SHAWN SHROYER
sshroyer@kansan.com
Weston White/KANSAN
Senior shortstop Erik Morrison throws the ball to first for an out after fielding a hard-hit grounder. The Jayhawks played the Benedicite Red Raiders Wednesday night at Hooldun Ballpark.
All season it was thought that Kansas had an ace in the hole in Andy Marks. That illusion came to an anticlimactic end Wednesday night.
After Wednesday's doubleheader, Kansas coach Ritch Price confirmed that he was shutting down Marks for the season and the junior left-hander would take a redshirt. Marks had been undergoing physical therapy to return to the Kansas rotation after having surgery to repair a tear in the labrum of his throwing shoulder.
"Him and I talked in Florida," Price said. "He wasn't ready to throw his bullpins in Florida and I talked with his dad Monday and we made the decision that he's going to red-shirt. He's not ready to contribute at this point in time."
Marks, who suffered his injury during the summer started throwing again in January and the hope was to have him back in the rotation by April 1. He threw his first bullpen on Feb. 16 and progressed steadily until recently.
The now-certain absence of Marks from the Kansas rotation hurts on two levels.
For one, until Wednesday, the Jayhawks were comforted with the knowledge that Marks would eventually return this season and be back to form in time for the stretch run through the Big 12 and conference tournament.
The Kansas pitching staff is deeper than it has been in years, but it's not as top-heavy as a successful Big 12 staff needs to be.
"it's still a pretty solid staff, but with him I think our pitching staff would have been top five in the conference, easy, just because he's that good," junior first baseman Preston Land said.
For another, Marks has developed into a motivational presence in the Kansas dugout. Even on his off days the last two seasons, he was one of the most animated players in the dugout. While Marks will no doubt continue to be an enthusiastic presence at home for Kansas, he will be missed on the road. Price said Marks wouldn't travel with the team for road conference series.
"He's a valuable part of our team," Price said. "Now he's got to become that guy who can't help you on the field, but can help you in the dugout."
With this season out of the question, Marks must now wait until next season to build upon a strong sophomore campaign.
in the Big 12 in strikeouts. He struck out a career high 10 batters against Oklahoma State and, against Kansas State, he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, surrendering only one hit in seven shutout innings.
In 2007, Marks led Kansas with 91 strikeouts, 15 starts and 89.2 innings pitched and he tied for fifth
Marks came into his own as the season wore on, recording a 3.28 ERA during his final six starts. His development continued into the summer with the Duluth Huskies where he pitched a no-hitter. But before the summer season ended, Marks began experiencing pain in his throwing shoulder and discovered the tear in his labrum.
Price said Marks would have an MRI today to make sure there was no structural damage, but Price ruled out the possibility of Marks coming back this season. Price's only hope was that a clean MRI would psychologically allow Marks to take
the next step to recovery.
"Our goal now is to send him back out in July, back up to Duluth, put him on a pitch count, pitch him every fifth day so he can get some work the last six weeks of the summer, and then come back in the fall and be completely 100 percent," Price said.
Price is also taking into consideration Marks' future in case he's drafted in June's MLB Amateur Draft.
"We want what's best for him and for him to get that opportunity that he so richly deserves, but he's got to get healthy," Price said. "We're not going to jeopardize his health at this point in time by pushing him."
Marks was unavailable for comment.
—Edited by Madeline Hyden
SOFTBALL
Jayhawks bounce back to defeat Missouri State 4-3
The University of Kansas softball team successfully bounced back from their rough weekend in Oklahoma. The team swept Missouri State last night, a team that was coming off a recent victory against those same Sooners who gave Kansas so much trouble.
The Jayhawks opened up with a close 4-3 victory over the Lady Bears. The team had trouble starting off the game, leaving the bases loaded in the first inning, but they got the momentum going in the fourth inning.
Junior shortstop Stevie Crisosto led off the inning with a solo home run. Sophomore designated player Ally Stanton tapped an infield single that miraculously stayed in fair territory because of a great amount of spin on the ball. Senior left fielder Betsy Wilson reached on an error to load the bases and junior center fielder Dougie McCauley was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game to drive in another run.
The Jayhawks let the Lady Bears right back in the game in the top of the fifth inning though. Junior pitcher Valerie George and junior third baseman Val Chapple both
had throwing errors in the inning that led to two Missouri State runs.
Freshman right fielder Liz Kocon put the Jayhawks right back in the lead though with a solo home run that slowly made its way out of the ballpark.
Missouri State mounted a comeback in the top of the 7th inning, but Kocon proved too much for the Lady Bears to handle delivering the winning single in the bottom of the seventh.
Coach Tracy Bunge was very happy with the play of Kocon in the game. "I think she was down on herself a little bit after her performance at Oklahoma so it was good to see her come back and swing the bat," Bunge said.
The Jayhawks cruised to an 8-0 victory in the second game of
Crisosto said the team talked about how important it was to get these wins against Missouri State right after the Oklahoma game. "We were like, we need to get these next wins on Wednesday. It's good because it's a region win and we've showed people in the Missouri Valley Conference that we can beat them and we will." Crisosto said.
the double header. Sophomore pitcher Sarah Vertelka yielded only four hits to the Lady Bears and the KU offense compiled eight hits and seven walks in the five-inning game.
McCaulley had a big performance going three for four at the plate with two doubles and 2 RBIs. Wilson and sophomore second baseman Sara Ramirez both crushed home runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, providing a spark from the bottom of the batting order.
Bunge was pleased to see the power output from the bottom of the order and she was not surprised to see it from Ramirez.
"When she takes a hack, she takes a hack. Kid doesn't get cheated often." Bunge said. She was slightly surprised by Wilson's power outburst.
"Betsy Wilson, you don't expect it from that kid. She had her first
Bunge said she was very pleased with the team's performance; especially getting important regional wins against a tough Missouri State team. "These were the kinds of games that we have talked to our team all along that we've got to get," Bunge said.
The Jayhawks will face Texas Tech back at Arrocha Ballpark on Saturday and Sunday. Crisosto said the team what be out to prove themselves again. "We were looking to send a message too, since they've been ranked above us preseason in the Big 12, but we'll take care of business this weekend," Crisosto said.
—Edited by Samuel Lamb
career one as a senior earlier this year. She's been on the ball better here of late and I think she's hitting with a lot more confidence right now," Bunge said.
Weston White/KANSAN
Junior shortstop Stevie Crisosto high fives teammates after scoring the Jayhawks' first run of the game. Kansas defeated Missouri State 8-0 Wednesday evening at Arrocha Ballpark.
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