Monday, April 16, 2007
Coming into the weekend, Kansas’ key to success was its pitching staff.
The problem certainly hadn’t been scoring runs. Kansas had scored at least six runs in its eight games leading up to the Baylor series and was averaging more than eight runs during that span. Still, the Jayhawks had a 3-5 record to show for it.
On the other hand, Kansas’ pitching staff had struggled mightily in Big 12 Conference play. The Jayhawks’ weekend starters — sophomore Nick Czyz, junior Zach Ashwood and sophomore Andy Marks — had a combined 7.65 ERA against conference opponents.
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I don’t really care who the win goes under as long as our team’s getting wins and getting into the Big 12 tournament so we can see what we can do from there.
-junior Zach Ashwood
Those trends went by the wayside against Baylor as Kansas wasted solid performances from its starting pitchers and cemented itself as the last-place team in the Big 12.
Czyz got the first taste of disappointment Saturday afternoon.
After battling a tight tricep all week, Czyz allowed three runs in five innings, striking out four for arguably his best outing since March 10. But the Kansas offense mustered only two runs on five hits, stranding seven runners.
“I told him that’s as competitive as he’s been since he’s been here,” Kansas coach Ritch Price said of Czyz on Saturday. “He was in trouble and out of trouble and made some big pitches.”
Sunday’s double-header was more of the same for Jayhawk starting pitchers, but not for lack of effort by the offense.
Kansas collected 19 hits in the doubleheader. That total translated to only six runs as 22 men were left on base.
Ashwood got the start in game one and allowed only two runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Unfortunately, Ashwood wasn’t rewarded for his effort with a victory. Three runs of support by his offense left a slim margin for error for the bullpen and, as fate would have it, an error erased the Kansas advantage.
Ashwood was just glad Kansas eventually won, evening the series.
“I don’t really care who the win goes under as long as our team’s getting wins and getting into the Big 12 tournament so we can see what we can do from there,” Ashwood said.
The Jayhawks’ Big 12 Tournament hopes took a heavy blow when Kansas gave Marks only two runs of support in game two. Marks struck out eight in six innings, allowing zero walks and five hits. But, three of the five hits were home runs and he was charged with four earned runs.
Kansas’ bats did little to keep Marks from taking the loss. The Jayhawks had nine hits, but nine runners were left on base, resulting in just two runs.
Price credited his counterpart, Baylor coach Steve Smith, for his team’s offensive woes.
“Their guys were throwing 90, 91 and 92 and they were using the change-up. When you’re geared to hit the fastball, it’s really hard to make that adjustment as a hitter,” Price said.
Kansan sportswriter Shawn Shroyer can be contacted at sshroyer@kansan.com.
— Edited by Mark Vierthaler
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