FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2006
SPORTS
Slappin' it home in the Frozen Four
Darren Hauck/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Boston College's Benn Ferriero, left, takes a shot on North Dakota's Jordan Parise, right, in the third period of the first game of the NCAA Frozen Four Thursday in Milwaukee. Boston College defeated North Dakota 6-5.
Kieschnick
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
"I talked to the coaches a little bit and they wanted me to wait until the spring and I didn't want to wait," Kieschnick said. "So, Texas Tech was the best place for me."
Although the competition in the Big 12 can be overwhelming for freshmen, Kansas shouldn't expect any letdown from Kieschnick this weekend.
Even outside of the batter's box, Kieschnick can contribute. He has three stolen bases in four attempts. On defense, he's started all 33 of Texas Tech's games in left field and has only
one error with his 52 putouts, two assists and .982 fielding percentage, which is the third best on the team among regular starters.
When considering what had been the best part of his first year as a college baseball player, he talked about the road trips he has taken instead of statistics.
"Playing at A&M, playing at Astros stadium," Kieschnick said, referring to trips Texas Tech took to Texas A&M and Minute Made Park in Houston. "Playing at all these different places, I'd never got a chance to play before."
Tennis
- Edited by John Jordan
"If we can pull out a win against them, that would be really big," she said of Baylor.
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Kansas has a 5-3 record at home this season. The three losses all came against Big 12 opponents.
The weekend will also mark the last match at home for senior Christine Skoda, the only senior on the team.
"Anytime you wrap up your home season, especially for our senior, it's an emotional time with it being her last match on campus," Hall-Holt said.
The matches will be moved to First Serve if it rains.
Tennis notes:
Kansas lost 4-3 to No. 49 Nebraska on Wednesday in Lincoln. Kansas came into the match with a season-high six-game winning streak. Hall-Holt said the team played well, but not winning the doubles point was one of the deciding factors in losing the match.
Sophomore Elizaveta Avedeva notched her 10th consecutive singles victory on Wednesday. She is now 15-3 in singles competition this spring.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 3B
Suns all-star Stoudemire sidelined for season
Edited by John Jordan
NBA
BY BOB BAUM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHOENIX — The guessing game regarding Amare Stoudemire's return finally is over. The Phoenix Suns All-Star forward will not play again this season.
Stoudemire underwent arthroscopic surgery Wednesday on his right knee, a procedure to remove debris that had built up as he rehabilitated his left knee following surgery before the season began.
A few hours after the latest operation, the Suns were listless in a 119-105 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Instead of welcoming their big forward back for a possible run at an NBA title, the Suns will have to make do with a small lineup that — without injured center Kurt Thomas — has seen its defense disintegrate.
To make matters worse Wednesday, the Suns normally
high-scoring offense slowed to a crawl.
"We will just have to find some energy and go ahead." Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said.
Stoudemire's operation followed a comeback that lasted three games. He missed the first 66 games of the season after surgery on his left knee.
Stoudemire's surgery Oct. 11 came a week after he signed a five-year contract extension worth more than $70 million. He returned to the lineup March 23, scoring 20 points in 19 minutes against Portland. But his production dropped dramatically in his next two games, and Stoudemire's mobility was a problem. He missed the next four games before deciding on arthroscopic surgery. D'Antoni said he wouldn't second-guess the decision to have Stoudemire return less than six months after surgery.
"There was no risk of him re-injuring his knee," D'Antoni said.
Crunch Time
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Despite Kansas' offensive struggles at times this season, its pitching has been solid.
Humphreys has given up only two hits in her last 24 innings, including a no-hitter Tuesday against Nebraska.
Senior pitcher Serena Settlemier ranks fourth in the Big 12 Conference, giving up fewer than two runs per game.
Settlemier has also been effective from the plate, where she leads the conference in home runs and RBI.
— Edited by Jodi Ann Holopirek
NOTABLE STATS
"Right now the team has a great deal of what both Kassie and Serena are doing on the mound for us," Bunge said.
Kansas softball players' Big 12 Conference rankings
Home Runs:
1. Serena Settlemier, 16
2. Destiny Frankenstein, 9
Triples:
2. Destiny Frankenstein, 3
Doubles:
2. Val Chapple, 10
RBI:
Strikeouts:
1. Serena Settlemier, 35
Strikeouts:
6. Kassie Humphreys, 7.75
Opponent Batting Average. 3.Kassie Humphreys,163
Source: Big 12 Conference
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