10A / SPORTS / MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2011 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
SWIPING TWO
BASEBALL REWIND
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
Sonnimore third baseman lake Marasco tags out Chris Slater of Baylor Saturday. The Jayhawks defeated the Bears 4-3.
Baseball team makes progress
BY ALEC TILSON
atilson@kansan.com
It was a good weekend for the Kansas baseball team. Sure it could have been great, but certainly it was good.
The Jayhawks (12-15, 4-5) took the first two games of the series against No. 19 Baylor (17-12, 4-5) and gave themselves a chance to sweep a solid conference opponent with a victory on Sunday. That opportunity doesn't arise every day.
As it were the brooms wouldn't be needed. The Baylor hitters broke through and defeated Kansas 12-3. A five-run lead in the top of the third inning seemed to take the air out of a still young Kansas ball club and end the hopes of a three-victory weekend.
"It would have been outstanding. It would have said a lot for our team," junior catcher James Stainfield said. "I honestly can't explain how we have two really great games and then just one where it just seems everything is going wrong."
An admittedly-disappointed coach Price offered his explanation, saying bluntly, "it's a lack of maturity." He again pointed to a lack of experience and toughness.
Freshman right-hander Alex Cox, coming off another impressive start at Texas A&M, didn't have his best stuff on Sunday. He was chased in the fourth inning after giving up five earned runs and hitting two batters.
Despite Sunday's letdown the team's progress has been noticeable.
The upperclassmen, namely outfielders Jimmy Waters and Casey Lytle and pitcher T.J. Walz.
have heard all year about what they have to be for this team, how they must carry the club. After this weekend, that chatter might die down a bit.
Kansas came out swinging. Waters' first-inning home run on Friday night set the tone for the Javhawks.
"That was awesome to see him get that," Walz said. "He's been struggling a little bit lately, he'd be the first one to tell you that. It's cool to see a guy work that hard and have it pay off."
runs or fewer and Walz appears stronger and more focused every outing.
It was big for Waters but maybe bigger for the rest of the team, which tacked on another five runs. With Walz on the mound, he allowed just one earned run on three hits in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out 11 hitters with a phenomenal change-up working the whole night. That marks seven starts in a row with three earned
Lytle continues to raise his average and could be moved back in the lineup into more of an RBI role. Where he hits won't affect his mindset.
"We have to come out here, clear our minds, have some fun, play hard and in the end the scoreboard will show the results,' Lytle said.
It was, no doubt, a much-needed weekend. A sweep could have made it great but two out of three and a series win is what good baseball teams strive for.
"We played really well last week and its carried over to this week," Price said. "We're making progress now finally."
Edited by Becca Harsch
Senior outfielder Casey Lytle connects with a pitch against Baylor Sunday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence Kansas.
Chris Bronson/KANSAN
Junior infielder Chris Manship battles at the plate during the sixth inning of Sunday afternoon's game against Baylor. Manship went 1-3 in the Jayhawks' 12-4 loss to Baylor. The Jayhawks are now 12-15 for the season and 4-5 in Big 12 play.
Friday
Baylor
Kansas 4
Saturday
Kansas 6
Sunday
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
Sophomore catcher Alex DeLeon throws the ball to first base for an out Saturday. Kansas won the game 4-3.
Baylor 12
Kansas 4
Key game
The second game. After opening the series with a win, the Jayhawks went right back to work in game two.Both teams battled back and forth until the Jayhawks broke through in the bottom of the ninth.The Baylor pitchers broke down and walked in the game-winning run after they loaded the bases.The 4-3 win clinched the series for Kansas.
Lytle
Game to remember
Casey Lytle in game two. Lytle continued to stay hot in Big 12 play, going three for four in the Jayhawks'huge second-game win. Lytle had one RBI, and was walked in the crucial 9th inning to set up the Jayhawks' victory.
Senior outfielder, Casey Lytle
Marasco
Game to forget
Macias
Sophomore infielder, Jake Marasco
Jake Marasco in games one and two. The slumping third baseman went 0 for 4 and left three men on base in the Jayhawks' opening game against Baylor. Marasco had similar struggles in the second game, this time going 0 for 5 and once again leaving three potential runs on base.
Notes
— senior shortstop Brandon Branond on his bases-loaded, game-
dawning walk in the ninth on Saturday.
Quote of the weekend
The number of strikeouts on the season for senior T.J. Walz. Good for third in the Big 12 Conference and just one behind the two leaders who are tied at 53.
"I got some pretty tough calls called against me early in the game, I guess they rewarded me back. The game kind of works funny that way."
Stat of the weekend
52
- Senior outfielder Casey Lytte snapped a 13-game hitting streak Friday night. He wasn't too concerned: "Some people would be upset about it, but you just got to let it go. It's a hit streak, start a new one today."
- Baylor's speedy centerfielder Brooks Pinckard added to his leagueleading stolen base total with two on Sunday. His 26 steals is eight more than anyone in the conference. He also throws a 95 mph fastball and is the team's closer.
- Coach Price is not worried about freshman pitcher Alex Cox after his first poor outing this year. Price praised his makeup and said Cox is the one freshman in the dugout he's not worried about.
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAM
Senior shortstop Brandon Macias throws the ball to first base for an out Saturday. The Jayhawks won the game with a walk off to Macias.
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