Kansas beats Texas again, 4-3. Jayhawks to go for series sweep on Sunday.

by James Quinn on Mar 21, 2009 5:00 PM CDT in Kansas Jayhawk Baseball

Kansas rallied from a 3-1 sixth inning deficit to defeat the #1 ranked Texas Longhorns Saturday at Hoglund Field. The Jayhawks have won back to back one run games and will go for the series sweep Sunday at 1PM. Freshman Lee Ridenhour (3-1) will get his first weekend start in Sunday’s game. He will be opposed by Texas sophomore Cole Green (2-0). First pitch at 1PM.

Kansas took advantage of poor Texas fielding for the second straight day to take an early lead. David Narodoswki scored on a throwing error by Texas first baseman Brandon Belt to stake KU to a 1-0 lead. Belt made a costly error in Friday’s game as well, so it is safe to say that Lawrence might not be his favorite place to play.

The Longhorns reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth inning when Kevin Keyes hit a three run homerun. Keyes hit a two run homerun yesterday and has accounted for five of Texas' seven runs so far in the series, so it is also safe to say that Lawrence might be his favorite place to play.

Kansas would not tolerate the Texas lead for long. The Hawks stormed back in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3. Jimmy Waters delivered a two RBI single bringing home Buck Afenir and Tony Thompson. The following inning Robby Price wrapped up the scoring with an RBI single to plate Narodowski.

The KU pitching staff rose to the occasion again today. Starter T.J. Walz did not give up a base hit until one out into the fifth inning. He left the game trailing 3-1 after Keyes sixth inning homerun but his overall performance was very good. He went 5.1 innings, 3 hits, 3 runs, 3/3 BB/K – a good enough outing to give the Hawks an excellent chance to win. Price used five relief pitchers to get the final 11 outs. Cameron Selik, Travis Blankenship, Brett Bochy and Colton Murray kept Texas off the scoreboard for the next two and a two-thirds innings. Paul Smyth protected the one run lead in the ninth to earn his fifth save. The ninth inning was not without drama. The game ended on a deep fly ball to left field off Brandon Belt’s bat with runners on second and third. As soon as Nick Faunce caught the ball the team collected on the pitcher’s mound congratulating Smyth and celebrating the series win.

Once again the KU defense was rock solid. Tony Thompson, David Narodowsky and Robby Price all made outstanding plays.

The weather couldn’t have been better. I’d estimate about 1,200 fans showed up and Hoglund was plenty loud at all the right times. Sadly game three will be played at the same time as KU’s NCAA tournament game vs. Dayton so I expect turnout will be quite a bit smaller on Sunday. Just the same I expect to see at least a few people to show up carrying brooms.

Kansas improves to 12-7 on the year and 2-0 in the Big-12. Texas falls to 14-5 and 2-3. KU is 9-0 at Hoglund this year. Maybe it is time to start mentioning that. Do we have a magic Hog in ’09?

KU Recap and Boxscore here.

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Comments

These guys...

have to be turning some heads at this point…I’m not a huge baseball guy but from what I’ve read and expected of this team, I’m impressed.

Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.

by Owen on Mar 21, 2009 5:17 PM CDT reply actions

Hey Denver,

I just don’t know what to make of the team. They are like that damn song we hear all the time. Hot and cold, blah blah blah. They certainly showed up the last two games. Minus three late inning pitching meltdowns and the time would be 15-4 and probably ranked. Well, there is a lot more baseball to be played and it will all be settled on the field. As long as KU wins conference games they will hold their fate in their own hands.

I am completely impressed with the starting pitching staff and with Tony Thompson, Buck Afenir and Brian Heere. I have nothing bad at all to say about those guys.

I did not highlight it in the story, and I probably should have, but David Narodowsky, Tony Thompson and Robby Price all made ESPN highlight reel defensive plays in the game.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on Mar 21, 2009 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions

I shouldn't do this, it is much too early for this type of nonsense,

but I just took a look at KU’s RPI after the two wins.

#41.

The were somewhere around 75 on Thursday.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on Mar 21, 2009 11:03 PM CDT reply actions

What’s a typical playoff-level RPI? Or is there any chance make it this year?

Insanity is just a state of mind.

by KTJ on Mar 21, 2009 11:37 PM CDT up reply actions

It is very much like basketball

64 team field. 30 confrence auto picks, 34 at-large. The selection comittee has been going five or six deep into the Big-12 in recent years.

If the field were selected today KU would be a bubble team. The Jayhawks have never been given an at-large. The only time they made the tournament since it expanded to 64 teams (I think in 1998) was in 2006 when they won the Big-12 tournament. They were on teh bubble going into the tournament with an RPI in the 40’s if I remember correctly.

One other thing to keep in mind about the NCAA tournament selection process. They baby the SEC like grandmothers. The SEC has gotten nine teams in each of the last three years and they simply are not the elite conference they like to pretend they still are. It bugs the heck out of me, and I follow a team from a conference that gets plenty of love from the committee as it is. Imagine how Pac-10, Big West and WCC fans feel about this annual jackassery. Hint – it is unpublishable even on a blog.

Last year Missouri State was left home and Arkasas got a ticket. Arkansas did not even qualify for the SEC tournament. The SEC only takes 8 teams into thier conference tournament. I think Missouri State won 8 more games than Arkansas and had a better RPI. Bears fans were unhappy with that crap and I was on their side.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on Mar 22, 2009 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions