Baseball team rallies for victory

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Nick Faunce wasn’t supposed to play Tuesday. He wasn’t even in the dugout when his number was called.

But he sure did finish the game.

The senior outfielder hit a two-run, walk-off home run to seal an 8-6 comeback victory for Kansas (16-10) against Northern Colorado (8-16).

Photo by Weston White

Junior second baseman Robby Price throws to first to turn Kansas' first double play against Northern Colorado Tuesday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark. Kansas came back to win in the bottom of the 9th inning 8-6.

“It’s pretty exciting. I don’t consider myself a power-hitter,” Faunce said. “To see it clear the fence, I was pretty excited to win the game for us.”

Faunce originally had the game off to let freshman outfielder Jake Marasco get some at-bats. When Marasco went down with a foot injury, Faunce stepped into the game in the bottom of the fourth. Not only did Faunce hit the game-winning home run, but he had a key RBI double in the eighth to start a three-run rally that tied the game.

“It is definitely a confidence booster,” Faunce said. “I tried to make some adjustments myself and obviously to get the ball on the barrel.”

Though the game ended dramatically, it didn’t start that way for Kansas. The Jayhawks seemingly sleep-walked through the first eight innings, and the Bears controlled a 4-1 lead. Coach Ritch Price said he was disappointed with the team’s lack of energy in the early innings.

Nothern Colorado junior starter James Quisenberry baffled the Kansas lineup throughout the game. The soft-throwing left-hander kept the Jayhawks from doing damage until Quisenberry was chased in the eighth inning.

And that’s where the fun started for Kansas.

After scoring just one run in those first seven innings, the Jayhawks erupted for seven in the final two, doing damage against the Bears’ bullpen.

Junior second baseman Robby Price smashed a single right past the Bears’ diving second baseman, tying the score at four and shifting all the momentum to Kansas.

“He works the count 3-1, and the guy knows he’s got to throw a fastball now,” Ritch Price said. “He razors the ball into right field.”

But then senior closer Paul Smyth gave up two long home runs, and it looked as though Northern Colorado was ready to pull off the upset.

Coach Price put senior first baseman Preston Land into the game during the top of the ninth inning for defense. As Land watched the Bears celebrate with an almost certain victory, he wanted to make sure he made a play when he came to the plate with his team down a run and two outs.

“Try to put the ball in play there, make hard contact,” Land said of his approach during the at-bat.

Land proceeded to hit a line drive into the ground that kicked off the Northern Colorado shortstop. The left fielder then misplayed the ball in the outfield, which allowed sophomore outfielder Jimmy Waters to tie the game at six.

“I hit the ball hard on the ground and it took a lucky bounce,” Land said. “Anytime I can just get on base to help the team win is a plus.”

Land didn’t have to wait too long on base before Faunce’s home run to dead-center cleared the wall. It was Faunce’s first walk-off home run in his career at Kansas. He said it was a joy for him to get mobbed by his teammates before he even crossed home plate.

“They’re all there for you,” Faunce said of his teammates waiting at home plate as he rounded the bases. “To celebrate it, it’s just a good feeling to perform in that kind of situation.”

Not only was it Faunce’s first walk-off home run for his career, but it was also the first walk-off game at Hoglund Ballpark this season.

Kansas has had to watch teams like Arkansas and Texas A&M celebrate walk-off victories on their home fields. Land said it was a relief to be able to experience that and not watch it.

“When you’re in that situation it’s huge and everyone’s happy,” Land said. “It’s a huge amount of enthusiasm and huge moral boost for the team.”

— — Edited by Heather Melanson

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