Robby Price had to sprint for his first home run this season, an inside the park job.

Price, a junior second baseman, could get used to this jogging business.

Price’s fourth-inning home run cleared the right-field wall and ignited Kansas to an 8-0 victory against Wichita State (6-6) Wednesday night at Hoglund Ballpark.

“I should do that more often,” Price said of his traditional home run. “This one was a lot more enjoyable.”

Price’s second home run of the season got Kansas (9-3) on the board in the fourth inning. Soon afterwards, the floodgates opened as the Jayhawks scored double-digit runs in the next two innings, capping off the scoring binge with a three-run sixth inning.

Fittingly, Price finished the scoring in the sixth inning. After a sacrifice fly from senior left fielder Nick Faunce, Price roped a double to the gap in left-center field, scoring two runs and killing any opportunity for Wichita State to remain in the game.

Considering that at the time of the first pitch the weather was at a chilling 30 degrees Fahrenheit, coach Ritch Price labeled this game the best so far this season for Kansas.

“To play perfect defense, swing the bat, run the bases and pitch like that, that was an outstanding win in every phase of the game,” Price said.

For the first three innings, it looked as if the Jayhawks were at the mercy of the Shockers freshman pitcher Brian Flynn. Flynn struck out five batters and it looked like Kansas was in store for a long, cold night.

But on a 1-1 count to start off the fourth inning, Price hammered a home run over the right-field fence to the left of the scoreboard.

“The ball’s jumping off his barrel now,” Ritch Price said of Robby’s increased power. “He’s really worked hard to improve his strength.”

Flynn never recovered and he failed to retire four of the five next Jayhawks. Sophomore third baseman Tony Thompson pushed his hit streak to 20 games with an infield RBI single.

That was all freshman Lee Ridenhour needed. He recorded what is easily the best start of his young career. Ridenhour went eight innings, giving up only three hits and one walk while collecting five strikeouts.

“I was able to work in and out,” he said. “I was really able to throw it inside effectively for strikes.”

Ritch Price even dared to suggest Ridenhour’s performance was just as good as, if not better than, Shaeffer Hall’s no-hitter earlier this season. Price said the elements could have made it a rough outing for Ridenhour, but the freshman came through.

“When you take into account the elements, it was a really tough night to pitch,” Price said. “I thought he was outstanding.”

Senior closer Paul Smyth worked a perfect ninth. Ridenhour said he didn’t mind not finishing the game, considering that his pitch count reached 100 after the eighth inning.

“It was OK, as long we got the win,” Ridenhour said about not pitching the ninth. “I was real happy with how I threw.”

As good as Ridenhour was, Robby’s performance after a two-game break had the biggest implications for the Jayhawks. Kansas now leaves for a daunting west-coast trip and Price said he’d leave his struggles behind.

“I just try to stay within myself,” Price said. “Getting those two days off really cleared my mind, and I got back out there today and did pretty well.”

— — Edited by Andrew Wiebe