THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2006
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 1B
SOFTBALL
No hitter, no victory
BY RVAN SCHNEIDER
rschneider@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SWITWRITEER
In Kansas' string of recent close losses, this certainly ranks among the most frustrating.
Despite pitching a no-hitter, junior pitcher Kassie Humphews was tagged with the 2-0 loss to Nebraska Tuesday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark.
The jay Hawks had their chance to give Humphreys the win in the sixth and seventh innings but were unable to connect, leaving four runners stranded on base in the final two innings.
"Our pitching is not the issue right now," Kansas coach Tracy Bunge said. "We're just not scoring runs for them, we're not making anything easy."
Kansas (18-18, 1-4 Big 12
Conference) had runners on first and second base to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning, after a single by senior outfield Heather Stanley. She moved to second base after a Nebraska error put senior outfielder Nettie Fierros on first. Nebraska pitcher Ashley DeBuhr then recorded two of her 11 strikeouts, walked junior infielder Jessica Moppin and struck out freshman infielder Val Chapple to end the inning.
"We were in the sixth inning, right where we wanted to be." Bunge said. "I want my kids swinging the bat and those people, in particular, swinging the bat. For whatever reason, we didn't get it done today."
Nebraska scored its two runs off a passed ball by freshman catcher Erika Simington in the second inning and a wild pitch
by Humphreys in the seventh. The runners reached base via a hit-by-pitch and an error, respectively.
Kansas will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon. Bunge said the chance to get back on the field less than 24
The Jahawks lack of offense spoiled another strong outing by Humphreys, who has struck out at least 10 batters in three games this season. In her past 17 innings on the mound, Humphreys has allowed only one hit, which came against Oklahoma State last weekend.
"I feel good out there," Humphreys said. "I still think I gave up a couple pass balls, so I'm not saying I'm doing a fabulous job, either."
hours after the loss to Nebraska helped her team.
"The best thing in the world is to get back on the field, nobody wants to go back to practice." Bunge said. "The thing about this group is they continue to handle adversity in a positive way."
Softball Notes:
The loss marked Kansas' eighth loss to a ranked opponent this season. The team has two victories against ranked teams — Florida and Nebraska — earlier in the season.
Stanley tied her season high with two hits against the Cornhuskers. It marked the fourth time she has recorded two hits in a game this season.
- Edited by Matt Wilson
Joshua Bickel/KANSAN
Junior pitcher Kassie Humphreys hurls the ball towards home plate during the Jayhawks' match-up with the Nebraska Cornhuskers Tuesday afternoon at Arrocha Ball-park. Despite Hummpreys pitching a no-hitter, Kansas lost to Nebraska 2-0. Humphreys finished the game with 10 strikeouts and three walks.
BASEBALL
Shockers seeking revenge
Junior pitcher Brendan McNamara delivers against Wichita State in the first inning at Hogland Ballpark March 29 night. McNamara and the Jayhawks take on the Wichita Shockers at 7 p.m. in Wichita.
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
And even though his coach could not have been less thrilled about the boasting coming from his players after their 8-2 victory against Wichita State, coach Ritch Price let a slight smile creep across his face as he continued to talk.
Last week, the Jayhawks gave sophomore outfielder John Allman backing to his claim that his was the best team in the Sunflower State.
Randall Sanders/KANSAN
He knows this rivalry is changing, and his Jayhawks are making progress toward the top.
"He meant it in the right manner," Price said of Allman. "He's proud of being a part of the program and the steps that we've made becoming a top 25 team."
No better way to find out than simply playing again. Kansas (20-11, 4-5) travels to Wichita (22-9, 2-4) to wrap up the in-state rivalry series at Eck Stadium tonight at 7 p.m.
Although the pair faced off four times last season, twice in Lawrence and twice in Wichita, this season's claim to greatness rests on just two games.
Price said that Wichita State pitching coach Brent Kemnitz made the Shockers' schedule, and after Oklahoma State was added to its 2006 schedule, there just wasn't enough time to fit four games in against Kansas.
SEE REVENGE ON PAGE 6B
BASEBALL
Jayhawks healed and ready to play
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Five weeks after injuries tore apart their nearly-intact lineup, the Jayhawks are complete once again.
"It feels like Christmas in April right now," Baty said. "I haven't been in my bag since the accident, and it's fun just going through there and looking at what's in it. I just pulled my helmet out that I haven't used in a while. It's just great. It's great being back with the team and feeling like I can contribute."
Senior outfielder Matt Baty will play tonight.
Additionally, sophomore second baseman Ryne Price returned last weekend against
The returning players should give coach Ritch Price more to work with, but what his team has done without big starters like Baty and Price holds water on its own. The Jayhawks are now ranked 24th in the nation by Baseball America.
Missouri. Although Price said he aggravated his injured wrist swinging at a pitch Sunday, he said he would be fine by tonight.
"To play five weeks without two of your best six offensive players, I think is a real compliment to the job everyone's done filling in until we could put all of our pieces back together." Price said.
Now with all of his pieces at hand, Price has to put the puzzle together. Outfielders Brock
Although Murphy's defensive talent filled the opening perfectly in center field, Baty's absence left the lineup without a lead-off hitter. Murphy struggled at the plate and could not fill that spot.
Simpson and Kyle Murphy have served as the team's main standins during the absence of Baty, who was forced to the sidelines after lacerating his kidney and spleen on Feb. 25 against Lipscomb.
"He's struggled with the bat big time," Price said. "Nobody works harder than he does and he's our best defensive player."
Price juggled the lineup and tapped Simpson to be his leadoff man. Simpson came through, posting a .300 average. Price said he may still
If that stands, senior Gus Milner would likely play center and sophomore John Allman would stay in left.
"As far as me, I just have to show up everyday, look at the lineup card and see if I'm in there or not," Simpson said. "If I'm in there then I'll do what I can to help the team. If I'm not I'll just wait for my chance."
Milner will likely move back to right and will be replaced with Baty in centerfield as time goes by.
"As long as I'm in the line up, I don't care," Milner said. "If I've got to pitch, then I've got to pitch, I guess."
start in right field on Wednesday, and Baty would be used as the designated hitter.
Whether he'll admit his excitement for the match-up or not, Baty did say at least 60 of his family members would be Eck Stadium to see his comeback.
Baty said he never looked at their schedule to deliberately try to get back for the last Wichita State game of his career, but Price doesn't believe the Wichita native for a second.
"That might be the only thing that kid has ever said that wasn't true in his life," Price said.
he would continue to check out freshman Preston Land at first. More than likely, however, the first and second combo would return to senior Jared Schweitzer at first and Price at second.
As far as adjusting for Price's return, coach Price said that
- Edited by Matt Wilson
BUNT 'EM OVER
6
Final Four lousy
MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
I heard a conversation between two University of Kansas students on the way to class Tuesday that summed up my thoughts on the 2006 Final Four.
In Saturday's nightcap, UCLA played LSU in a game that was even worse than the first. Not only was it a blowout, it was a low-scoring blowout. UCLA further cemented its title as America's Most Boring, playing a slow game that held its opponent to 45 points for the second consecutive game. LSU looked like it never got out of bed, much less off the bus. Ballyhooed big-man and sophomore Glen "Big Baby" Davis validated his infantile nickname, and the Tigers never got closer than 14 points to the Bruins in the second half.
Tall guy: "Did you watch the national championship game last night?"
Short guy: "No, not really.
Did you?"
Talg guy: "I watched, like, the first half. Jt was pretty boring."
Florida versus George Mason had some pre-game appeal because of the Patriots' Cinderella status and the continuation of Gator sophomore forward Joakim Noah's three-week coming-out party. The game itself, however, was less than stellar. Florida's easy victory didn't give fans hoping for a George Mason title a chance to cheer at any point in the game. The loudest person in the RCA Dome was Noah, who screams at the top of his lungs every time he gets a rebound, as if it's the biggest play in the history of college basketball.
Usually the Final Four draws great interest from every college basketball fan in the country. The tournament was great leading up to last weekend, but the final match-ups, beginning on Saturday, did not provide any excitement whatsoever and sucked the life out of those watching.
Those two disasters conspired to set up the worst title game I have ever witnessed. It was so bad, in fact, that I found myself watching the New York Yankees build a 13-1 lead against the Oakland Athletics rather than the second half of the game.
SEE TOURNAMENT ON PAGE 68