Sooners spoil Jayhawks’ home cookin’

By Andy Samuelson Apr 3, 2004

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo

Kansas University pitcher Ryan Knippschild hurls a pitch against Oklahoma. The Sooners thumped the Jayhawks, 8-2, Friday at Hoglund Ballpark despite the fourth-largest crowd in KU history.

Kansas University junior outfielder Andy Scholl wasn’t hot-dogging Friday night at Hoglund Ballpark.

Scholl sprawled for a highlight-reel, over-the-shoulder snag of a shot by Oklahoma’s Brandon Lance in the fifth inning. Scholl’s grab, which came with the bases loaded, saved two runs.

But the Sooners added three more runs when the very next batter, Jeff Scuderi, broke out of a 4-for-32 slump with a three-run homer that helped spoil KU’s Big 12 Conference home opener in an 8-2 OU victory.

Quarter Hot Dog Night attracted a crowd of 1,838 — the fourth-largest in KU history — but the Jayhawks couldn’t prevail at Hoglund, where before Friday they held a 14-1 record while batting .398 and slugging 29 home runs.

Ryan Knippschild, a senior pitcher, entered with a 5-3 mark and 3.73 earned-run average but allowed eight hits and six runs — although five were unearned.

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo

Kansas University shortstop Ritchie Price makes a throw to first base. The Jayhawks lost to Oklahoma, 8-2, Friday at Hoglund Ballpark.

“You can’t expect the guys to come out and get 15 runs for you every time,” Knippschild said. “Friday-night guys are their best pitcher, so you can’t expect them to put 10 runs on the board every time. I have to go out there and do my part, and I just didn’t do that for us tonight.”

OU pitcher Mark Roberts was outstanding, striking out eight Jayhawks in eight innings. Kansas tallied its lowest number of runs and hits (five) at home this season, and the Jayhawks’ paltry .161 batting average Friday made KU’s road average of .297 seem stellar.

Kansas (22-12-1 overall, 1-3 Big 12) even lead the league before Friday with a .342 batting average and 305 runs scored in 34 games.

“You know, in the Big 12 on Friday nights, runs are hard to come by,” KU coach Ritch Price said.

6Sports video: KU baseball falls to Oklahoma, 8-2

The Jayhawks also committed three errors, including two costly ones in Oklahoma’s four-run fifth. Yet Scholl, a junior-college transfer, found positives amidst the fan-heavy, hot-dog-laden atmosphere.

“I think we hit the ball a little better than the numbers show,” he said. “We just have to come out tomorrow and put a few more runs up there for our pitchers. Hopefully, the crowd environment will be about the same.”

The Jayhawks play host to the Sooners again at 6 tonight.