6B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2008
Marla Keown/KANSAN
Le Moyne thirdbaseman Stephan Crawford steals third base at the top of the first inning. Le Moyne had two hits during the first inning, but left two players on bases after a fly ball was caught in right field. By the bottom of the third inning, Kansas led 10-0.
BASEBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
After hitting a double in the first and a single in the third, Allman capped off his day with a home run to right-center field, his first of the season.
The other starters in the Kansas outfield continued to swing hot bats. Junior Nick Faunce and senior Casey Larson, who went 9-for-16 the last two games of the Music City Classic, each recorded two hits against the Dolphins.
While the Kansas offense dished out plenty of punishment, no Le Moyne pitcher suffered more than Nelson (0-1), who got the start. In 3.1 innings, Nelson surrendered 10 runs on eight hits and five walks.
Opposite Nelson, Kansas starting pitcher, sophomore left-hander Wally Marciel (2-1) fared far better. In five innings, Marciel allowed just two runs on six hits while striking
out four.
Considering how Marciel didn't receive a single run of support in his start last Wednesday against Arkansas, the 10 runs of support he got Wednesday were a welcome site.
"The bats were awesome today," Marceli said. "Our hitters are coming along. Johnny had a good game and Ryne had a good game. I just want them to continue hitting."
GAME NOTES:
injury updates
Junior catcher Buck Afenir was out of the Kansas lineup for the third straight game with a pulled hamstring, but coach Price said he hoped Afenir would be available for Saturday's double-header with North Dakota State.
Junior left-hander Andy Marks, who is recovering from a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, finished his bullpen session on Tuesday. The session was Marks' first since last week, when he was unable to finish a session. Price said the team trainer Ken Wainwright told him Marks' latest bullpen session was his best one so far.
In attendance
Of the 609 people listed in attendance for Wednesday's home opener, former Jayhawk Sean Land was among them. Land, who is now in the Minnesota Twins system and is the older brother of current Jayhawk Preston Land, pitched at Kansas from 2004-2006.
Edited by Jared Duncan
Marla Keown/KANSAN
BASEBALL
Competition heated, despite temperature
TYLER PASSMORE
tpassmore@kansan.com
White Owl, a Lawrence resident, cheers "we will rain on you" during the home opening game Wednesday afternoon. Owl attends as many sporting events as he can and calls himself the adopted mascot. "I love it," said Owl of the University of Kansas.
MARCH 5TH VS. LE MOYNE COLLEGE
With a brisk 37-degree temperature at game time, the Jayhawk baseball team's bats heated up Hoglund ballpark on Wednesday. While White Owl kept the first base side bleachers warm with his dance moves, it was the four-run first inning and the six-run third inning that lit the fire for the team. Fueling the charge in the early stages of the game was senior catcher Ryne Price's grand slam and his shot to right field that ended in a triple and two RBI. With a good fan turnout of 609 for a frozen home opener, the Hawks did not disappoint. After a lead-off single and a shaky first inning, sophomore starting pitcher Wally Marciel slammed the door on the Le Moyne College Dolphins giving up only 6 hits and 2 earned runs in 5 innings. Marciel improved to 2-1 on the year and brought his strikeout total to 10. While the temperature was low, head coach Ritch Price needed to make an adjustment to Marciel's pitch count. "We originally had planned on him throwing around 75 pitches." Price said. "Once we got a big lead, we kept him in there for his 5 innings so he could get the win he had earned." Although the coach's approach changed, Marciel kept the same approach.
"The only difference is I wore sleeves today." Marciel said. "I normally don't like to wear sleeves, but the coaches made sure I had them on today." The Jayhawks have not been accustomed to the cold weather this season, as they started the season off in Hawaii before traveling to Fayetteville, Ark., and Nashville, Tenn. The cold weather may have been the element the Jayhawks needed to start out the season opener with a victory for the sixth time under head coach Ritch Price. Coach Price attributes the Jayhawks' success to their preparation in the cold elements. "One of the things we do is we practice in it." Price said. "Around here, some of the teams will go inside and not even try to bear the conditions, but if there's no snow on the ground we are going outside. We realize we are a Midwest team and we have to be prepared to play in it." Also torching the Dolphins from behind the plate was red shirt senior left fielder John Allman. Allman was chasing the cycle, as he was 3-3 with a HR, double and single, improving his average to .250. With the theory of
the cold weather being a helpful tool for the Hawks, Allman has another. "I would like to thank the fighting Samurai spirits we had going on today." Allman said. "Former player Ryotaro Hayakawa from Japan gave us a Samurai figure and it led us to victory." With the Kansas weather not looking to warm up anytime soon, the Jayhawks will play host to North Dakota State this weekend and try to remain on fire as they are 1-0 in games under 40 degrees.
MLB
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Edited by Samuel Lamb
Cardinals pitcher continues hot streak
Teammates congratulate St. Louis Cardinals' Brian Barton in the dugout following his eighth-inning solo run against the Washington Nationals at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fl., Wednesday during their spring training baseball game.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
JUPITER, Fla. — John Lannan turned in his second straight strong performance, pitching three scoreless innings in Washington's 6-5 win over a St. Louis Cardinals split squad Wednesday.
Lannan, the Nationals' reigning minor league pitcher of the year, allowed three hits, walked two and struck out three, extending his scoreless streak to five innings this spring.
"My mechanics felt good," Lannan said. "It's always good when you go out there and not always have your best stuff and prove that you can battle."
Ryan Ludwig and Brian Barton, two outfielders trying to make the Cardinals' roster, each had a big day. Barton went 4-for-5 with a home run and Ludwig had three hits and also went deep.
The 23-year-old Lannan made his major league debut on July 26 and went 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA in six starts last season.
"I'm sure they feel better right now," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said.
St. Louis has lost five straight spring games after winning its first two.
Ludwig said he felt lost at the plate before Wednesday. He said he has spent extra time in the batting cage working on his swing and mental approach.
Mike Parisi made his first spring start for St. Louis and allowed three runs in the first inning before pitching a scoreless second and third. Shortstop Cesar Izturis' error, his second of the spring, accounted for one of the runs.
Parisi allowed four hits.
"I thought he did a very good job of keeping his composure," La Russa said. "He ended up having a good outing."
Pete Orr hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning for Washington.
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