Baseball notes
Notes from this weekend's KU baseball games.
By Tyler Passmore (Contact)
Monday, April 14th, 2008
Land strong in series sweep
Photo by Jon Goering
Junior First-baseman Preston Land takes a throw-over to first base from freshman pitcher T.J. Walz. Land gave Kansas a 5-1 lead over Texas Tech with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth.
After a week of cancellations, the Jayhawks came back with a much-needed sweep of Texas Tech. The Kansas weather was on hand this weekend, as the Jayhawks used the wind to launch balls over the Hoglund Ballpark fence.
Junior first baseman Preston Land was one of the Kansas players to hit home runs, homering in both Saturday’s and Sunday’s games. Although the wind aided some of the Jayhawks’ long balls, Land’s towering shots would have been out of Yellowstone Park.
Land’s average climbed to .248 on the weekend, and the two home runs brought his total to five. Sunday’s game was sparked by Land’s home run, while also having junior catcher Buck Afenir and freshman designated hitter Jimmy Waters go deep.
Land’s momentum this weekend will carry him into a tough following week when the Jayhawks travel to Lincoln, Neb., to face the Cornhuskers.
“Coach was out there telling us in the huddle that after this weekend, we jumped from tenth to seventh,” Land said. “It is huge motivation and gets us ready for our next series.”
The Jayhawks are starting to climb the ladder in the Big 12 and are going to have to rely on continuing to hit. The Jayhawks will face a tough Missouri State team Wednesday before they get that next chance.
— Tyler Passmore
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