Macomb, Ill. ? The Kansas University baseball team got back on a winning track, winning both games of a doubleheader Thursday against Western Illinois.
In the first game, sophomore Travis Metcalf hit a bases-loaded double that scored three runs, leading the Jayhawks to a 6-5 victory over the Leathernecks (10-19).
Pat Holmes (3-1) got the win, allowing 11 hits and three runs — two earned — in eight innings. Brandon Johnson worked the ninth for a save.
KU spread the wealth in the second game, a 9-6 victory. Senior Lance Hayes, juniors Matt Tribble and Jake Kauzlarich and freshman Ritchie Price each had two RBIs for the Jayhawks. Hayes and senior Kevin Wheeler each scored two runs, helping Kenny Falconer (2-0) earn the victory.
Johnson again earned the save, his sixth this season.
Kansas coach Ritch Price said the doubleheader sweep came at the right time.
“I thought today was outstanding for our ballclub,” Price said. “We needed our bats to come alive before this weekend’s series at Texas Tech, and they did just that. We also had a pair of really good pitching performances from Pat Holmes and Kenny Falconer.”
The Jayhawks (26-14 overall, 2-7 Big 12 Conference) will travel to Lubbock, Texas, this weekend for a three-game series starting at 7 tonight.
Kansas 6, Western Illinois 5
First game
Kansas 020 300 001 — 6 16 2
W. Illinois 000 101 102 — 5 14 1
W-Holmes (3-1). L-Butler (2-3). S-Johnson (5).
2B-KU: Metcalf; WIU: Rooney, Milliken, Schmidgall.
KU highlights: Ritchie Price 2-for-4, 2 RBIs; Kevin Wheeler 3-for-4, two runs; Travis Metcalf 1-for-5, 3 RBIs, run.
Kansas 9, Western Illinois 6
Second game
Kansas 001 600 2 — 9 13 0
W. Illinois 010 122 0 — 6 7 1
W-Falconer (2-0). L-McCool (3-3). S-Johnson (6).
2B-KU: Hayes, Wheeler, Tribble, Kauzlarich; WIU: Schultz.
KU highlights: Lance Hayes 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Ritchie Price 2-for-4, 2 RBIs; Ryan Baty 2-for-4, run, 12 putouts; Kevin Wheeler 1-for-3, walk, 2 runs; Matt Tribble, 1-for-4, run, 2 RBIs; Travis Metcalf, 2-for-4, run, RBI; Jake Kauzlarich, 2-for-3, run, 2 RBIs; Brandon Johnson, 1 inning, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 K, save.
Nebraska pounded Kansas University pitchers Kara Pierce and Kirsten Milhoan for nine hits and eight runs, helping the Huskers upend the Jayhawks, 8-0, Thursday in Lincoln, Neb.
Nebraska (28-9, 6-4 Big 12) had an impressive outing from junior pitcher Peaches James, who didn’t allow a hit in five innings.
Pierce (14-8) took the loss for the Jayhawks, who play host to Texas A&M at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Nebraska 8, Kansas 0
Kansas 000 00 — 0 0 2
Nebraska 005 03 — 8 9 0
W-James (16-7). L-Pierce (14-8).
Kansas University’s baseball team honored its seniors on Saturday with a ceremony and a pair of wins over Texas-Pan American.
The Jayhawks (25-30) steamrolled UTPA, 10-2 and 8-0, at Hoglund Ballpark.
“It’s great to win, but especially the last couple games,” KU shortstop John Nelson said. “You want to end it on a good note and everyone is playing real hard trying to do that.”
Senior right fielder Jesse Gremminger agreed, but added a bittersweet sentiment.
“I wish we were playing like this earlier in the season,” he said. “It’s just a shame that we peaked too late. But I’m glad it was a beautiful day for Senior Day. And it is good that we won. We killed ’em and that felt good.”
Other seniors honored on Saturday were Sam Gish, Eric Thompson, Brent Del Chiaro, Doug Dreher and Pete Smart.
Pitching for the Jayhawks was another bonus, in addition to stellar offense. Smart, pitching all nine innings of the first game, broke the school record for innings pitched in a season with 1151*3.
In the second game, Doug Lantz held Texas to a single hit. The last time the Jayhawks accomplished that feat was in February of 1992 against Arkansas.
Lantz also retired 12 consecutive batters from the bottom of the second into the top of the sixth.
“Doug really pitched well,” KU coach Bobby Randall said. “I thought Pete pitched really well also. We stretched him out a little bit to get him the record because he deserved that. He really earned the right to do that.”
Randall was thrilled with his team’s performance.
“I was really proud of the way we played,” he said. “But I thought the second game was better than the first game. We really hit the ball well in the second game. They helped us a little there in the first game. We had a lot of good performances from a lot of good guys. We could have used this a little bit earlier in the season, but its never too late.”
Randall also complimented his outgoing seniors.
“They are great players,” he said. “They’re hard-nosed, tough, dedicated baseball players and they love to play. It’s enjoyable to coach guys that enjoy the game as much as they do. It’s fun to see them do so well out there, especially today.”
The series will conclude today. First pitch is noon at Hoglund Ballpark.
