Kansas Baseball: KU can’t snag Big 12 berth against hapless KSU

By Ryan Wood     May 17, 2003

? Kansas University wasn’t worried about the emotions surrounding Kansas State’s final home baseball game of the season Friday.

The Jayhawks had other things to play for.

But despite both Texas Tech and Oklahoma losing, KU couldn’t solidify a berth in the Big 12 Conference tournament, falling 4-3 to KSU in front of 781 fans at Tointon Family Stadium.

The loss dropped the Jayhawks to 8-17 in Big 12 play. Oklahoma — which lost to Missouri, 6-1, Friday — dropped to 9-16. Tech, an 11-7 loser to Oklahoma State, fell to 7-17. All three teams have two games left in the conference season and all three are fighting for the final two spots in the tourney, which starts Wednesday in Oklahoma City.

“We have to take care of business ourselves,” KU coach Ritch Price said. “If we’re going to watch the scoreboard and hope they lose all three games this weekend, we’re not going to get it done.”

With the wind blowing in Friday, Kansas (34-25) hit 16 fly balls that were killed by the breeze and put to rest in Kansas State gloves. Eight isolated hits led to just two earned runs — the Jayhawks scored after a Travis Metcalf RBI single in the second and a Lance Hayes sacrifice fly in the fifth. Junior Ryan Baty doubled and scored on an error in the eighth.

“K-State’s been struggling fielding all year,” said junior Matt Tribble, who was 2-for-4 with a run. “We were trying to hit balls hard on the ground, but we hit a lot of fly balls. It wasn’t our plan.”

KU’s inability to adjust led to a happy ending for KSU coach Mike Clark, who was coaching his final home game after 17 years at the Wildcats’ helm. He resigned May 5, partly because of the Wildcats’ struggles this season. With the victory, the Wildcats improved to 14-36 overall and 4-21 in Big 12 play and KSU is the only team with no shot at the postseason.

“They’re not going to lay down for us, and nobody else is going to win it for us,” Price said. “We need some clutch hits and big pitches.”

Senior Kevin Wheeler started for KU, pitching a complete game and striking out four. He looked shaky at times, most notably in the fourth inning when he surrendered a three-run home run to Pat Maloney. But with reliever and Free State High graduate Brandon Johnson sidelined because of a sore elbow plus a thin KU bullpen, Wheeler was forced to work out of his jams.

“Our starters have found their rhythm,” Price said. “Wheeler gave up the three spot in the fourth and then put up four more zeroes. He gave us the chance, we just didn’t get it done.”

The series now moves to Hoglund Ballpark, where the two teams will battle at 7 tonight. KU has lost six straight conference games, but the Jayhawks insist they hardly are down for the count.

“We’re pretty excited,” Tribble said. “We haven’t had the chance to play for something in the last homestand, and now we do. We need to go out and capitalize on that and hopefully get into the tournament.”

Kansas State 4, Kansas 3

Kansas 010 010 010 — 3 8 1

Kansas State 100 300 00x — 4 8 1

W-Kevin Melcher (1-7). L-Kevin Wheeler (6-5). S-Eric Rollins (6)

HR-KSU: Pat Maloney (8).

KU highlights: Ryan Baty 2-for-4, 2 doubles, run; Matt Tribble 2-for-4, run; Sean Flynn 2-for-4, triple.

Kansas Baseball: KU splits twinbill with UALR

By J-W Staff Reports     Feb 9, 2003

? Kansas University’s baseball team split a pair of games with Arkansas-Little Rock on a frigid Saturday afternoon.

In 28-degree weather, the Jayhawks rallied from a four-run deficit and escaped with a 7-4, 10-inning victory in the first game. Matt Tribble’s two-run triple in the sixth and solo home run in the ninth, paired with Kevin Wheeler’s two-run bomb in the tenth, made the difference for KU.

Tribble, a junior, went 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBIs in the first game. Brandon Johnson worked five-plus scoreless relief innings for the win, allowing three hits.

The Jayhawks couldn’t overcome UALR pitcher Brad Cherry in the second game despite jumping to a 4-1 lead in the third. UALR scored four runs in the fifth off KU pitcher Josh Duran and escaped with a 5-4 victory.

KU left fielder Casey Spanish had two hits and two RBIs in the loss.

The series will end with a 1 p.m. game today.

Kansas Baseball: KU loses third straight

By J-W Staff Reports     Mar 13, 2002

? Southwest Missouri State scored seven runs in the bottom of the third and added six in the fifth Tuesday as Kansas University dropped its third straight baseball game, 15-7.

The Jayhawks (10-3) were led by sophomore Matt Tribble, who was 3-for-4 with four runs and an RBI. Sophomore Ryan Baty extended his hitting streak to a team-high seven games, by going 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.

KU junior Kevin Wheeler also drove in two for the Jayhawks and was 2-for-5 with a double and a home run, extending his streak to six games.

KU senior Jeff Davis suffered his first loss of the season, pitching 22*3 innings and giving up eight runs on seven hits while striking out one.

The Bears improved to 6-2.

Kansas will be in Waco, Texas, next weekend to take on Baylor. Friday’s game is slated for 7 p.m.

SW Missouri State 15, Kansas 7

Kansas 001 020 103 7 9 2

SMS 017 006 01x 15 20 6

Jeff Davis, Ryan Jakubov (3), Chris Smart (6), Tom Gorzelanny (6), Kevin Wheeler (8) and Cole Armstrong, Beau Thompson; Ziegler, Wilson (8), McMain (9) and Piazza, Nasby. WPZiegler, 1-2. LPDavis, 3-1.

2BKU: Wheeler; SMS: Wilson 2, Piazza, Mathis. 3BKU: Tribble; SMS: Hilgendorf. HRKU: Brinkley; SMS: Wheeler.

Kansas Baseball: KU loses third straight

By J-W Staff Reports     Mar 13, 2002

? Southwest Missouri State scored seven runs in the bottom of the third and added six in the fifth Tuesday as Kansas University dropped its third straight baseball game, 15-7.

The Jayhawks (10-3) were led by sophomore Matt Tribble, who was 3-for-4 with four runs and an RBI. Sophomore Ryan Baty extended his hitting streak to a team-high seven games, by going 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.

KU junior Kevin Wheeler also drove in two for the Jayhawks and was 2-for-5 with a double and a home run, extending his streak to six games.

KU senior Jeff Davis suffered his first loss of the season, pitching 22*3 innings and giving up eight runs on seven hits while striking out one.

The Bears improved to 6-2.

Kansas will be in Waco, Texas, next weekend to take on Baylor. Friday’s game is slated for 7 p.m.

SW Missouri State 15, Kansas 7

Kansas 001 020 103 7 9 2

SMS 017 006 01x 15 20 6

Jeff Davis, Ryan Jakubov (3), Chris Smart (6), Tom Gorzelanny (6), Kevin Wheeler (8) and Cole Armstrong, Beau Thompson; Ziegler, Wilson (8), McMain (9) and Piazza, Nasby. WPZiegler, 1-2. LPDavis, 3-1.

2BKU: Wheeler; SMS: Wilson 2, Piazza, Mathis. 3BKU: Tribble; SMS: Hilgendorf. HRKU: Brinkley; SMS: Wheeler.

Kansas Baseball: KU loses third straight

By J-W Staff Reports     Mar 13, 2002

? Southwest Missouri State scored seven runs in the bottom of the third and added six in the fifth Tuesday as Kansas University dropped its third straight baseball game, 15-7.

The Jayhawks (10-3) were led by sophomore Matt Tribble, who was 3-for-4 with four runs and an RBI. Sophomore Ryan Baty extended his hitting streak to a team-high seven games, by going 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.

KU junior Kevin Wheeler also drove in two for the Jayhawks and was 2-for-5 with a double and a home run, extending his streak to six games.

KU senior Jeff Davis suffered his first loss of the season, pitching 22*3 innings and giving up eight runs on seven hits while striking out one.

The Bears improved to 6-2.

Kansas will be in Waco, Texas, next weekend to take on Baylor. Friday’s game is slated for 7 p.m.

SW Missouri State 15, Kansas 7

Kansas 001 020 103 7 9 2

SMS 017 006 01x 15 20 6

Jeff Davis, Ryan Jakubov (3), Chris Smart (6), Tom Gorzelanny (6), Kevin Wheeler (8) and Cole Armstrong, Beau Thompson; Ziegler, Wilson (8), McMain (9) and Piazza, Nasby. WPZiegler, 1-2. LPDavis, 3-1.

2BKU: Wheeler; SMS: Wilson 2, Piazza, Mathis. 3BKU: Tribble; SMS: Hilgendorf. HRKU: Brinkley; SMS: Wheeler.

Kansas Baseball: KU loses third straight

By J-W Staff Reports     Mar 13, 2002

? Southwest Missouri State scored seven runs in the bottom of the third and added six in the fifth Tuesday as Kansas University dropped its third straight baseball game, 15-7.

The Jayhawks (10-3) were led by sophomore Matt Tribble, who was 3-for-4 with four runs and an RBI. Sophomore Ryan Baty extended his hitting streak to a team-high seven games, by going 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.

KU junior Kevin Wheeler also drove in two for the Jayhawks and was 2-for-5 with a double and a home run, extending his streak to six games.

KU senior Jeff Davis suffered his first loss of the season, pitching 22*3 innings and giving up eight runs on seven hits while striking out one.

The Bears improved to 6-2.

Kansas will be in Waco, Texas, next weekend to take on Baylor. Friday’s game is slated for 7 p.m.

SW Missouri State 15, Kansas 7

Kansas 001 020 103 7 9 2

SMS 017 006 01x 15 20 6

Jeff Davis, Ryan Jakubov (3), Chris Smart (6), Tom Gorzelanny (6), Kevin Wheeler (8) and Cole Armstrong, Beau Thompson; Ziegler, Wilson (8), McMain (9) and Piazza, Nasby. WPZiegler, 1-2. LPDavis, 3-1.

2BKU: Wheeler; SMS: Wilson 2, Piazza, Mathis. 3BKU: Tribble; SMS: Hilgendorf. HRKU: Brinkley; SMS: Wheeler.

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