Kansas finished their weekend sweep of Oklahoma this afternoon with a 9-4 victory. T.J. Walz went 6.2 innings to earn his fourth victory of the year. The Hawks hit often and with power, collecting 13 hits and two more homeruns. The 39 runs scored by KU set a new team record for runs in a Big-12 series. Robby Price stayed hot at the plate, going 3-5. The homeruns came from the usual sources, Buck Afenir (8) and Ryne Price (11). Paul Smyth pitched the final 1.2 innings for his 10th save. Smyth finished every game this series, earning a victory and two saves.
Big-12 Standings
| Team | Big-12 record |
Overall record |
|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M | 18-3 | 40-8 |
| Nebraska | 15-5-1 | 36-8-1 |
| Oklahoma State | 14-7 | 35-12 |
| Missouri | 11-10 | 31-16 |
| Texas | 12-12 | 29-19 |
| Baylor | 10-14 | 28-22 |
| Kansas | 8-13 | 29-22 |
| Kansas State | 7-14 | 22-25 |
| LINE OF SORROW | ||
| Oklahoma | 6-14-1 | 29-20-1 |
| Texas Tech | 6-15 | 21-25 |
This sweep enormously improves KU's post season hopes. On Friday the Jayhawks were tied for last place in the conference with idle Texas Tech. In three days they climbed over Kansas State and Oklahoma and now sit in seventh place. The top eight teams qualify for the Big-12 conference tournament in Oklahoma City. With four of their six remaining games at home (three vs. Missouri next weekend and then one vs. Kansas State) the Jayhawks can start thinking more about toppling Baylor and improving their seed then just making the cut. Kansas is 6-3 at home this year in Big-12 competition. Next weekend's series with Missouri at Hoglund looks bigger every day.
All year long KU baseball fans have known this team is stocked with talent and experience. It is so good to see them coming on strong here at the end. The 2008 Hawks play with enthusiasm and aggression. It is increasingly clear that they simply do not know quit.