Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoKansas University baseball coach Ritch Price said his batters faced what could’ve been the best pitcher they’ve seen all year Tuesday night.
He played for NAIA’s Avila University.
The Jayhawks were able to beat Avila, 8-5, but it hardly was a pushover.
Avila senior Brett Reid, who was a starter for Kansas State in 1999, threw the complete game for the Eagles, striking out five and hitting up to 91 mph on the radar gun. When the final out was recorded while the rain fell at Hoglund Ballpark, Price felt fortunate to escape victorious.
“He was awesome,” Price said of Reid. “That ends up being a quality win on a Tuesday. That was like beating a Division One team tonight.”
Fortunately for KU, freshman Don Czyz (2-2) was just as effective on the mound. After relieving senior Pat Holmes in the fourth inning, Czyz went on to pitch 52¼3 innings, giving up no runs, just three hits and striking out five.
It was sweet success for Czyz, who struggled against Baker University just a week earlier, giving up five runs in the first two innings of KU’s 7-4 loss.
“I wanted to come out next time and do a better job,” Czyz said. “I didn’t have my stuff that day. To come out and throw better, it was a great chance to redeem myself.”
Kansas (29-14) jumped to a 5-1 lead after three innings, but Avila quickly tied it with four runs in the fourth. Czyz put a stop to Avila’s offense, and KU finally pushed ahead after senior Casey Spanish doubled and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Brandon Shepard.
The Jayhawks added two more runs in the eighth, assuring their fifth victory in the last six games.
“We got our swagger back,” Czyz said. “It’s good to be winning again.”
Not surprisingly, senior Casey Spanish led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. He has a team-high batting average of .406 on the season.
“He’s a huge spark plug in the middle of that lineup,” Price said. “Not only is he physical with the bat, but he can really run.”
Kansas travels to Norman, Okla., to play Oklahoma starting Friday. The Sooners are having a down year, with a 1-11 record in Big 12 Conference play. It could be a prime opportunity for Kansas to solidify its spot in the Big 12 standings.
“It has to be a complete effort for us,” Price said. “We don’t have good enough pitching to not be perfect in every phase of the game.”
Avila 001 400 000 — 5 9 3
Kansas 302 001 02x — 8 10 3
W–Don Czyz (2-2). L–Brett Reid (5-2).
HR–Avila: Jerry Robertson (5).
KU highlights: Casey Spanish 2-for-4, 2 RBIs; Ryan Baty 2-for-3, 2 R, 3 SB (9); Don Czyz 52¼3 IP, 0 ER, 5 K.
