Nine-run first starts Jayhawks on road to 17-4 win

By Chris Wristen     Feb 26, 2004

KU's Clint Schambach delivers against Oakland. Schambach earned his first win of the year in the Jayhawks' 17-4 victory Wednesday at Hoglund Ballpark.

Kansas University baseball coach Ritch Price knew his ballclub was making remarkable progress during its first homestand of the season, but even he didn’t see this coming.

Making his first start as a Jayhawk, junior right-handed pitcher Clint Schambach struck out all three batters he faced in the top of the first innings. Then it was Kansas’ turn to bat, and the game quickly ceased to be competitive.

KU (11-7-1) pounded nine runs in the bottom of the first, stole four bases, knocked two Oakland University pitchers out of the game, and went on to pummel the Grizzlies, 17-4, Wednesday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark.

Kansas improved to 4-0 at home this season, and took a 3-0 advantage in the four-game series with Oakland (0-3). The series concludes with a 3 p.m. game today.

The nine-run first inning was KU’s biggest single-inning explosion since a 10-run burst in its 17-3 victory Feb. 16, 2002 at Centenary.

Adam Buhler/Journal-World Photos
Kansas University's Ryan Baty, left, congratulates Travis Metcalf after Metcalf hit a home run. KU defeated Oakland, 17-4, Wednesday at Hoglund Ballpark.

“I was actually kind of shocked,” Price said. “They played us so good the first two days. Their freshman left-hander (Dan Stinchcombe) kind of got in trouble early and maybe he got rattled a little bit with the stolen-base attempts on him as well.”

After the early onslaught, the final eight innings became more of a glorified practice for the Jayhawks. Every eligible position player took the field at some point, and six pitchers saw action.

Schambach was the first to take the mound, and he was brilliant while throwing four no-hit innings and surrendering just one walk.

“It’s great to have run support and know you don’t have to make perfect pitches,” Schambach said.

Kansas pushed its lead to 14-0 with runs in the second and third innings. Right fielder Matt Tribble led off the second inning with a walk. Then, center fielder J.C. Sibley doubled. A fielding error allowed both to score on A.J. Van Slyke’s grounder. Senior first-baseman Ryan Baty blasted a two-run homer in the third, and junior Travis Metcalf added a solo shot, before most of the starters retired for the day.

Adam Buhler/Journal-World Photo
Kansas University pitcher Michael Saddler delivers against Oakland. The Jayhawks won, 17-4, Wednesday at Hoglund Ballpark.

“That one-through-nine hitting today, we were able to put up a lot of runs,” said KU catcher Sean Richardson, who went 3-for-3 with three RBIs. “I don’t know how many hits we had, but I’m sure every guy in our starting lineup had at least one or two. It’s great to see our whole lineup put it together.”

Most of the starters took a seat after the third inning, but even the backups swung the bat effectively. Travis Dunlap went 3-for-4 off the bench. He ripped a single in the seventh inning, and scored on reserve first baseman Mike Dudley’s two-run homer. Van Slyke scored Kansas’ final run in the eighth on Dunlap’s single to right field.

Oakland snapped KU’s no-hitter and shutout in the fifth when Ty Herriott tripled to right field and later scored. The Grizzlies added two more runs in the sixth and another on Will Tollison’s eighth-inning homer, but it wasn’t enough to deny the Jayhawks their fourth straight victory.

“Our record doesn’t show how good of a team we could be,” Richardson said. “We’ve blown a lot of chances, and what we need is victories. We’re playing really well, and these guys are no slouches, so this is a definite confidence boost going into next weekend and into Big 12 play.”

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