First-inning home runs carry Hawks

By Josh Bowe

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Junior second baseman Robby Price and sophomore outfielder Casey Lytle combined for two first-inning home runs as Kansas shocked No. 9 Oklahoma in Norman Okla., 5-4 Friday night.

Price and Lytle’s two-run home runs gave Kansas an early four-run lead that was extended to five in the third. The Jayhawks wouldn’t score again, and junior left-hander Shaffer Hall didn’t have his best start, but the Kansas bullpen pitched three-plus innings of no-hit baseball and senior closer Paul Smyth picked up his first save since March 22 against Texas.

Smyth pitched a perfect ninth, getting three groundouts, for his seventh save overall. Kansas picked up only it’s second Big 12 road victory.

“It’s huge, absolutely huge, especially with the way the weather conditions are. It establishes the fact that we can go on the road and win on Friday night,” coach Ritch Price said in a statement. “Now we have to finish the deal and win the series.”

Due to potential bad weather on Sunday, Kansas will play in its third double header of the week tomorrow to wrap up the series against Oklahoma. Game one starts at noon on Saturday.

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