SPORTS
FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2006
2B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN ATHLETICS CALENDAR BASEBALL
Softball vs. Eastern Michigan,
TODAY
Sportball vs. Eastern Michigan,
Jayhawk Classic, 2 p.m., Arrocha
Ballnark
Baseball at Clemson, 3 p.m., Clemson, S.C.
Senior outfielder Gus Milner, right, is congratulated by coach Price Price after hitting his fifth home run of the season in the third inning against Baker Wednesday. The Jawhaws will take on the Clemson Tigers this weekend.
*Softball vs. Minnesota, Jayhawk*
*Classic, 4 p.m., Arrocha Bellpark*
Track, NCAA Indoor Champion-
ship all day. Evansville, Ark
Diving, Zone Diving, all day. Columbia, Mo.
Women's golf, "Mo" moral Invitational, all day, College Station, Texas
Men's basketball vs. Oklahoma State, Big 12 Championships, 6 p.m., Dallas
Randall Sanders/KANSAN
SATURDAY
**Women's tennis vs. Iowa, 11 a.m.,**
Rockbirds Courts
Player to watch: Gus Milner. The senior right fielder had four hits and four RBI against Baker Wednesday.
Baseball at Clemson, 1 p.m. Clemson, S.C.
Miner leads the team with a .437 batting average and will be important against the No. 3 Tigers.
Softball vs.
Portland State,
Jayhawk Classic,
2 p.m., Arrocha Ballpark
Milner
Softball vs. Eastern Michigan, Jayhawk Classic, 4 p.m., Arrocha Ballpark
Track, NCAA Indoor Championships all day Favetteville Ark
Diving, Zone Diving, all day,
Columbia, Mo
Women's golf, "Mo" moral Invittational, all day, College Station, Texas
SUNDAY
Baseball at Clemson, Noon,
Clemson, S. C.
*Softball* vs. Minnesota, Jayhawk
*Classic*, Noon, Arrocha Bailoark
Women's golf, "Mo" moral Invitational, all day, College Station, Texas
Women's tennis vs. Oklahoma State, 11 a.m., Robinson Courts, Lawrence
TALK TO US
Tell us your news. Contact Eric Sorrentino or Erick Schmidt at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com
Kansas gears up to play Clemson
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Playing the No. 3 team in the nation on the road might seem like an formidable task, but members of the Kansas baseball team are looking forward to it.
"I'm so excited," junior centerfielder Kyle Murphy said on Tuesday, two days before departing for South Carolina. "I'm ready to leave for Clemson today. You just can't deny that. It's going to be a challenge and I think everyone on this team is looking forward to it."
Kansas (14-4) will begin a 10-game road trip that starts with a three-game series against No. 3 Clemson (8-2). The first game of the series is scheduled for 3 p.m. today.
Clemson actually became a KU opponent two years ago for a unique reason — former Clemson standout and current San Diego Padres shortstop Khailil Greene.
"I was going to give him and my team the chance to go play in that environment." Price said.
The environment was Doug Kingsmore Stadium, the location of the series against Clemon this weekend. Kansas leads the series between the 1-0, but this weekend the stakes are a little heavier.
"I think that if we can survive the next four weeks on our schedule then we will be in really good shape to make the NCAA tournament." Price said.
On Wednesday, Clemson defeated William & Mary, after being down three runs in the eighth inning. Under that pressure, the Tigers put together an eight-run eighth inning.
Junior second baseman Tyler Colvin leads the way at the plate for Clemson. He leads the Tigers in batting average . (353).
homeruns (4) and RBI (10).
Faced with stiff competition all season, the Jayhawks are confident in their ability to take on teams of Clemson's caliber.
"It seems like once you play one big team that it really means you've kind of played them all," Murphy said. "It's a little added since they are No. 2, but it's nothing too spectacular."
Clemson comes into the game ranked No. 2 in the Baseball America Poll. It is No. 3 in the Collegiate Baseball Rankings.
Kansas will bring weapons of its own.
Senior outfielder Gus Milner went 4-for-5 and drove in four runs in the team's last outing against Baker. Milner leads his team with 28 RBI and a .437 batting average.
"They're going to be tough." Milner said of the Tigers. "They're going to be like Stanford quality, probably a little better pitching. We just have to focus on good defense, good pitching and clutch hitting"
Kansas has shown weakness against highly-ranked teams this season. Kansas fell to then No. 9 San Diego 17-6 and lost to USC
"I know more times than not our hitters are going to come through," senior pitcher Ricky Fairchild said. "All I can do is control what I do on the mound and as long as I make my pitches then I know the defense behind me will make plays and the runs will come."
10-1 at the Public Storage Classic in February. The Jayhawk pitching didn't have much of a chance against those deficits, but they don't see that trend repeating itself.
Edited by Gabriella Souza
Kansas to play host to Jayhawk Classic
The Kansas softball team will try to build on its tournament victory last weekend by taking home the crown in the 2006 Jayhawk Classic. The Jayhawks will play Minnesota, Eastern Michigan and Portland State this weekend at Arrocha Ballpark.
Kansas (11-10) swept Missouri State in its home opener Wednesday. Coming off a 4-1 record at the Best Western Airport Festival in Tulsa, Okla., and capturing their first tournament win of the season, the Jayhawks will look to continue their winning ways. Kansas is scheduled to play at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. both today and Saturday. Sunday's final game will be at noon.
— Jonathan Anderson
FOOTBALL Jayhawks commence practice this weekend
The Kansas football team will begin spring practice on Saturday.
The practice on Sunday will be open to the public. Sunday's practice will take place at 2:30 p.m.on the grass practice fields south of Anschutz Sports Pavilion.
Drew Davison
Readers lining up for book on Barry Bonds
NEW YORK — Sneak previews of a book alleging Barry Bonds was a frequent user of steroids have apparently left readers wanting to know much more: "Game of Shadows," written by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters, jumped into the top 10 of both Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com after excerpts were released earlier this week.
According to publisher Gotham Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), a first printing of 50,000 has already been increased nearly fourfold, to 197,000.
The Associated Press
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