Monday, March 26, 2007
For the second straight weekend, Kansas entered Sunday with the opportunity for a series victory and let it slip away.
After the game, Erik Morrison, junior infielder, said peaks and valleys were common place in baseball.
As it turned out, Kansas’ series with No. 14 Oklahoma State was representative of those peaks and valleys, with valleys bordering the Jayhawks’ peak on Saturday.
In the second game of the series, Kansas junior left-hander Zach Ashwood stared down an Oklahoma State squad that had just pounded out 14 runs on 17 hits the day before and quieted its bats.
After nearly losing his spot in the weekend rotation the week before, Ashwood (3-2) solidified his role as a weekend starter against the Cowboys. He lasted six innings, striking out four and holding the Cowboys to three runs — only one of which was earned.
“There’s no doubt that was Zach’s best start of the year,” sophomore closer Paul Smyth said. “We haven’t seen our starters really go as deep as we’d like yet. For Zach to go out there and produce the way that he did, it hypes you up as a closer.”
When Ashwood exited after the sixth inning, he made way for Smyth with the score in Kansas’ favor, 6-3. Given the three-run cushion, Smyth refused to surrender the lead.
“Today was such a day that we needed a win that I was just going to do everything I could to try to keep that three-run lead,” Smyth said.
There was no doubt in coach Ritch Price’s mind that Smyth was going to slam the door shut on Oklahoma State for his fifth save of the season.
“That’s what we needed because we had nobody else,” Price said. “He clutched up big-time for us. He’s made a huge step forward from his freshman year to his sophomore year.”
Price said the bullpen has been stretched to its limit because of injuries to two key right-handers.
pullquote
We’re not getting the big hits and that’s what we’re lacking right now. So, I guess you could say we’re close, but at the same time, we’re not.
-junior infielder Erik Morrison
The Jayhawks have had issues with injuries as well.
Price said junior Hiarali Garcia, who hasn’t pitched since March 14, hurt his back lifting weights. Because he’s been out of commission, fellow junior Andres Esquibel has had to pitch extra innings of relief. Price said Esquibel’s arm was feeling “tender” and he hoped to lessen his workload until Garcia returns.
Price said Garcia was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday and could return as early as this weekend.
As the seasons ramps up, things have to improve if Kansas wants consistent play.
“We’re not getting the big hits and that’s what we’re lacking right now,” Morrison said. “So, I guess you could say we’re close, but at the same time, we’re not.”
Kansan sportswriter Shawn Shroyer can be contacted at sshroyer@kansan.com.
— Edited by Mark Vierthaler
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