THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2008
SPORTS
3B
BASEBALL
Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Traveler
Ryan Cisterna, Arkansas catcher, is tagged out at home on a fielder's choice during the sixth inning. Because the out, Arkansas was able to move two men into scoring position after the play. The Jayhawks lost the game, which was a defensive battle, by a score of 2-1. Kansas dropped to 2-4.
Late-game pitching leads to loss Arkansas defeats Kansas 2-1 after five scoreless innings
SHAWN SHROYER sshroyer@kansan.com
Nothing comes back to bite a pitcher like walking a leadoff hitter. Nobody knows that better now than Wally Marceli.
After pitching five scoreless innings yesterday, Marciel, Kansas' sophomore left-hander, committed the ultimate pitcher no- by walking Arkansas catcher
Ryan Cisterna to lead off the sixth. Five batters later, third baseman Logan Forsythe and left fielder Casey Coon crossed the plate for the Razorbacks only two runs.
These runs were enough to send Kansas (2-1)
4) home with a 2-1 loss.
struck out.
"We pitched absolutely fabulous today. We just struggled with the bats."
Marciol too ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth after allowing a leadoff double to Coon. The next batter, first baseman Andy Wilkins, made a double play to neutralize the threat.
"I was very pleased with the way we played today," coach Ritch Price said. "We pitched absolutely fabulous today. We just struggled with the bats."
During the top of the fourth, Kansas senior left fielder John Allman nearly turned a leadoff walk into offense. Allman then stole second and advanced to third on a Cisterna throwing error. However, Allman was stranded on third as the next three batters behind him
Offense was sparse for both squads as Marcel (1-1) and Arkansas (4-0) right-hander James Mahler gave up only one hit each through the first three innings.
Following Kansas' one-man rally in the fourth, Arkansas right-hander Mike Bolsinger (1-0) took the mound and dominated Kansas in the next two innings with five strikeouts. Bolsinger and Mahler combined for 11 of Arkansas' 16 strikeouts on the afternoon.
RITCH PRICE Men's baseball coach
"It's a byproduct of not being able to get outside and there's no doubt we're behind right now," Price said.
tle momentum on their side after Bolsinger entered the game, the Razorbacks took advantage of the last good chance Marciel gave them to score.
Two batters after Cisterna's leadoff walk in the sixth, the rally began. No sooner than Cisterna advanced to second on a wild pitch, Forsythe moved him to third with a single and Cisterna then stole second to move himself into scoring position. Ultimately, Cisterna was nabbed by a fielder's choice at home on a ball hit by Coon, but Forsythe and Coon were able to move into scoring position on the play.
With two outs, Marciel walked
Wilkins to set up a force play at every base. However, the plan fell short when center fielder Brett Eibner singled to left field, sending Forsythe and Coon home for the deciding runs.
Marciel's afternoon was done after 5.2 innings pitched, two runs allowed, three walks given up and two strikeouts.
"He's an outstanding competitor," Price said. "That was a tremendous performance he turned in today. They're a legitimate, perennial top 25 program. If he can pitch that good against them today, he's got a chance to win 10-11 games for us before the season's over."
Marciel's replacements, former Razorback sophomore right-hander Brett Bollman and junior right-hander Paul Smyth, pitched 2.1 perfect relief innings, but their pitching wasn't enough to ignite the Kansas bats.
With Bolsinger in line for the victory, Arkansas dug deeper into its bullpen to keep Kansas on the ropes. Only because of Allman's runout of a double play in the eighth was Kansas able to score as Arkansas closer Travis Hill earned his second save of the season.
While Price was disappointed, his offense wasn't more productive. He wasn't surprised either, considering how rarely Kansas has been able to play at game speed this season.
"Literally, we're only in spring training is where we are at," Price said.
Edited by Nick Mangiaracina
MLB
Royals defeated by Rangers in Wednesday opener
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Josh Hamilton, who played only 15 professional games from 2003-06 after being suspended for violating baseball's drug policy, hit a two-run double in the fifth inning Wednesday as the Texas Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals 6-1 in a Cactus League opener
taken in the 1999 draft. The Rangers acquired him in a December trade with the Cincinnati Reds.
Hamilton was the first player
Royals outfielder Justin Huber almost caught Hamilton's double off the left-field fence, which scored pinch runners Julio Borbon and Ryan Roberts.
"That guy just keeps his hands inside the baseball and he's strong." Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He generated bat speed. It was great. He just missed one in the first inning."
Right-hander Luke Hochevar, first
overall pick in the 2006 draft, pitched two perfect innings for the Royals. Hochevar, who is lying for a spot in the Royals rotation or as a reliever, did not allow the ball out of the infield.
Associated Press
FANS OF ALL SEASONS
Kansas fans agree on who to cheer for when the Jayhawks play, but fans are scattered when two other Big 12 Conference teams play each other. Fans have various formulas for deciding whom to root for. Here are five fan categories, though some fit into more than one category.
BY LUKE MORRIS
Imorrs@kansan.com
HOMETOWN FAN
Hometown fans root for the team closest to where they grew up.
- Jonathan Sonnino, Plano, Texas,
senior
"Usually I tend to root for Texas because I'm from there. It's the next closest thing I guess."
"I go for Nebraska because I'm from there.
— Emily Muskin,
Omaha, Neb., senior
RIVAL HATER
"I never go for Missouri unless they're playing someone ahead of us. Even then it's hard to root for them."
Rival haters have two favorite teams; Kansas and whoever is playing Missouri.
Taylor Curry, Overland Park freshman
"I definitely don't root for Missouri. Norm Stewart was awful."
— Rita Nanier associate professor of history
THE GREATER GOOD FAN
These fans root for teams that would better Kansas' standings in the Big 12 Conference.
"I root for Iowa State because they're never a threat."
—John McDonald, Colorado Springs,
Colo., sophomore
— Megan Cattleman, Omaha, Neb., junior
"It just depends on how much it affects our standings. If it's good for us that Texas wins, I'm going for them."
FANS OF INDIVIDUALS
...
These are the fans who root for a team because they like a coach or player on the team.
- "Usually I would say that I cheer for Texas Tech, especially
when Bob Knight was there because I really liked his history.
— Mark Costanza Kansas City, Mo, Junior
"This year I'm more of a fan of Augustin and Abrams and how good they are. I also like Rick Barnes and some of the teams he's had in the past."
- Sean Stenger, Prairie Village sophomore
IN-STATE FANS
"If K-State
"If K-State were playing another Big 12 team, I would root for K-State. They've really worked hard in recent years."
— Rita Napier, associate professor of history
Edited by Nick Mangiaracina
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