Game 1—Kansas 5, Northern Colorado 4

Winning Pitcher: Jr. RHP Andres Esquibel (4-1)

Losing Pitcher: Chris Dennis (0-1)

Save: So. RHP Paul Smyth (4)

A three-run first inning was the main source of offense Kansas strung together during a fairly slow game at the plate against Northern Colorado on Wednesday afternoon. Aside from a collegiate first — ¬¬junior Eric Snowden tagged his first homerun that resulted in the game winner in the bottom of the sixth — the eight hits Kansas put up in game one were less than potent.

A lead off base hit up the middle and a Northern Colorado error sparked a three-run first inning in Kansas’ series opening victory. The two-day series was postponed due to heavy rainfall on Tuesday and moved to a doubleheader on Wednesday.

Bottom 1st — Senior centerfielder Kyle Murphy led off the game with a single up the middle, and was joined on the base paths by freshman third baseman Robby Price after an errant throw on the Bears’ starting pitcher. Junior left fielder John Allman doubled to left to score Murphy. A pair of groundouts scored both Price and Allman to round off the Jayhawks’ first.

Top 2nd — First baseman Kevin Sandberg led off the inning with a base hit to right and scored on a sacrifice fly for the Bears first run of the game.

Bottom 2nd — Kansas scored another of the three unearned runs it would score in the game. Allman reached on a shortstop error, scoring sophomore first baseman Preston Land.

Top 5th — Walks plagued Kansas pitching all day, beginning with the Bears in the fifth. Starting pitcher Wally Marciel walked the first two batters in the inning and followed that up with a two-RBI double to left field wall. Marciel was then lifted for reliever Matt Lane, who ended the inning.

Top 6th — Catcher John Ray led off a string of three straight base hits to open the inning. Ray was the only one to score after Anthony Garcia drove him for the final Northern Colorado run of the game.

GAME NOTES — Freshman third baseman Robby Price snapped his 16-game hit streak. Price went 0-3 with a run scored, marking the first time the freshman has gone hitless in a game since Feb. 10 against South Dakota State.

Game Two—Northern Colorado 4, Kansas 2

Winning Pitcher: Sr. RHP Eric Maydew (3-2) 7 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K

Losing Pitcher: Sr. RHP Ryotaro Hayakawa (0-2) 5 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 6 K

Last season, University of Northern Colorado (7-10) took two games from Kansas (14-12) right before Kansas swept Texas A&M and went on to win the Big 12 Conference Championship.

Although the stakes were not as high this time around, Kansas still couldn’t escape Northern Colorado unscathed, dropping the second game to the Bears, 4-2.

“They’ve got a whole lot of Kansas J.C.’s on their team—so they get really pumped to play us,” Coach Ritch Price said.

Top 1st — Despite major help from Jayhawk starting pitcher Thomas Marcin, the Bears left three men on in the top of the first. Marcin hit one and walked two in his 28-pitch inning first inning. He would hit two more batters before being lifted in the top of the second for senior right-hander Ryotaro Hayakawa.

Bottom 4th — Freshman third baseman Robby Price walked to lead off the inning. With two down, junior shortstop Erik Morrison’s single paved the way for junior second baseman Ryne Price’s two-RBI triple.

Top 5th — After leaving five on base in the first two innings, the Bears found a way to put hits together for their first lead of the day, one they would not surrender. With one out, centerfielder Zach Brockman and designated hitter Brad Beaman hit back-to-back singles. Down to two outs, first baseman and clean-up hitter Kevin Sandberg smacked a three-run homer over the left field wall.

Top 9th — Third baseman Chad Murray led off the top of the eighth with Kansas’ ninth walk of the day. He scored on a double to left to arrive at the Bears’ four run total.

Bottom 9th — Junior outfielders John Allman and Brock Simpson walked and singled respectively. As the two sat in scoring position with two down, sophomore first baseman Preston Land strode to the plate. Although Land worked the count, he flied out to centerfield to end the threat.

NEXT UP — Kansas (14-12, 1-2) will play host to No. 14 Oklahoma State (17-5, 0-0) Mar. 23-25.