Rachel Seymour

More than 1,000 fans and one big bunny were in attendance for the Big 12 Conference opener between Kansas (21-10) and No. 9 Nebraska (21-3) this Easter weekend at Hoglund Ballpark.

The series did not end as well as it began, with the Jayhawks winning the first game 7-6, before falling 9-3 and 9-4. This marked the first Big 12 Conference opening-game victory for coach Ritch Price since his arrival in 2003.

But the momentum could not hold for Kansas.

“I think that we showed that we are capable of playing with anyone in the country,” Price said. “This was a great opportunity for us to win the first one on Friday and then have an opportunity to beat the No. 9 team in the country.”

In game one, which was played as part of a Saturday doubleheader, sophomore right-hander Joba Chamberlain entered the contest with a 4-0 record and a .83 ERA for Nebraska. He left the game with a 1.72 ERA.

None of his statistics could get Chamberlain anything more than a no-decision against Kansas on Saturday. Although the right-hander held the Jayhawks hitless until the fifth inning, they grabbed four runs on only one hit.

Chamberlain, who entered the game with only one hit batter, hit four and walked four more.

Senior lefty Mike Zagurski (4-2) also recorded a no-decision. Although he tallied seven strikeouts, Zagurski surrendered five runs on six hits in his 6.1 inning appearance.

Junior closer Don Czyz (2-1) struck out three en route to the victory. He held the Nebraska lineup scoreless in 1.2 innings of work in relief of junior right-hander Kodiak Quick (7-2).

Junior closer Brett Jensen (1-1) took the loss for the Huskers.

For the third time this season, the Jayhawks used a walk-off hit to seal a victory. For the second time, the hit came off the bat of junior outfielder Gus Milner.

Junior outfielder Matt Baty led off the bottom of the ninth with an infield single. Baty, who has moved to second base while freshman starter Ryne Price has been sidelined with an ankle injury, scored the winning run after Milner drove a Jensen pitch to the right field wall.

But the Cornhuskers did not go quietly. Junior third baseman Alex Gordon hit two homers in two attempts. He collected three RBI in game one and was walked five times in the series.

Nebraska was able to record a 9-3 victory.

Gordon hit his second home run of the day in the nightcap.

Sophomore left-hander Sean Land (2-2) took the loss after lasting only 2.2 innings and allowing four runs on five hits.

“I really thought we had some great momentum going into the second and third,” Czyz said. “We played well, they just played a little bit better.”

Junior pitcher Zach Kroenke (3-0) sealed the deal for the Huskers. In six innings Kroenke allowed three runs on three hits.

Junior left-hander Brian Duensing held the Jayhawks scoreless until the eighth inning in the Easter Sunday 9-4 loss. Down 7-0 entering the eighth, Kansas batters found a way to avoid the shutout.

Erik Morrison, freshman third baseman, hit the first home run for the Jayhawks in the series (3).

“It’s hard when everyone’s playing well,” Morrison said. “We’re starting to play well as a team, and we’re still getting beat.”

Milner also added a home run in the bottom of the ninth.

Quick had a solid outing for Kansas, but Price said he felt as if the starter may have been left in a little too long. Directly after a two-inning appearance on Saturday, Quick gave up five runs on five hits, taking the loss.

The Jayhawks finished the weekend at 1-2 in the Big 12.

Kansas continues play next weekend against Texas A&M.;