Tuesday, April 10, 2007
After barely letting No. 6 Texas get the series victory last weekend, an improving Kansas looks to make a much better showing against Oral Roberts.
When the Jayhawks (18-20, 4-8) made the trip to Tulsa, Okla. on Feb. 27, the Golden Eagles had their way with the visiting team, 9-1. Four series down, the Jayhawks are in the middle of Big 12 Conference play. Although they have yet to be swept by a Big 12 team, the Jayhawks have not won a Big 12 series yet this season.
Coach Ritch Price and his team are hoping to find the spark they need in tonight’s contest against the Golden Eagles.
“They’re one of the best teams in the Midwest,” Price said of Oral Roberts. “We just need a ‘W’ to field some momentum before the Baylor series now.”
Price said tonight’s game plan would revolve around the three relievers he has slated, starting with junior right-hander Andres Esquibel (5-3). Price wants to make sure his relievers are prepared to pitch this weekend against Baylor.
But after the 8-run loss Oral Roberts (16-14) game, the Jayhawks’ bats will need to be more effective tonight. Although Kansas dropped game three to Texas to lose the series. the Jayhawks did out-hit the Longhorns 30-29.
“We welcomed them here, we knew we could beat them and we just couldn’t come up with that last one,” sophomore catcher Buck Afenir said on Sunday.
Afenir made his first start as a designated hitter on Sunday, going 3-4 with one run scored. He and freshman third baseman Robby Price are in position to make the biggest offensive impact tonight.
Robby had a strong outing against Texas and hopes to carry momentum into the game against Oral Roberts. He was the only Jayhawk with an RBI against the Golden Eagles in February.
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Coach Ritch Price and his team are hoping to find the spark they need in tonight’s contest against the Golden Eagles.
Kansas, however, may have the advantage tonight. Oral Roberts is fresh off a 3-2 Sunday victory at previously top-25 Long Beach State, but it is just one of three victories the Golden Eagles have picked up on the road. Though Oral Roberts is 13-1 in Tulsa, the team is just 3-13 on the road.
Second baseman Jake Kahaulelio hurt the Jayhawks in February, going 4-4 with two runs scored. Kahaulelio leads his team with seven doubles and a .305 average, but he is the only Golden Eagle hitting better than .300.
The Jayhawks, on the other hand, have three starters hitting over .300 and three more within a handful of points to register a .288 team average compared to the Golden Eagles’ .244, who don’t have to compete in a conference with four of 10 teams in the Top 25.
“I think we’re competitive,” Price said. “That’s one thing I’m proud of each and every day we go out there and compete. We face quite a bit of adversity during the course of the season. The great thing about this conference is every weekend is a huge battle. You’ve just got to be man enough to play in this league.”
Kansan senior sportswriter Alissa Bauer can be contacted at abauer@kansan.com.
— Edited by Sharla Shivers
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