Kansas - Baseball

[twism]

Re: Kansas - Baseball

KU wins 13-5

[89rabbit]

Re: Kansas - Baseball

I have been at both games so far.  Let me say what a thrill it was.  I moved to Kansas in '91 and have been on KU campus many times to watch sporting events.  It was great wearing my school colors and cheering for my Jackrabbits as they did battle with the Jayhawks.

Being at Hoglund Field (nice ballpark, but the score board is broken, sales lead for Daktronics), has allowed me to meet some very nice Jackrabbit fans.  I also have meet many people who know Coach Christiansen and Duncan (both former members of the Kansas program) and they go on and on about what great guys they are and how happy they are that we have them.  It has been a blast, except for one guy just above our dugout who heckles the team unmercifully.  The boys have done a great job of ignoring him.  

The Jacks have played pretty good baseball considering that they Jayhawks had already played 9 games before we came to town.  We have given up some big innings but all and all we have competed well.  Two games to go, I would love to take one or two from the Hawks!

Go Jackrabbits, beat the Jayhawks.  ;D

[89rabbit]

Re: Kansas - Baseball

Highlights from an Argus story of yesterday's game:

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...37/1002/SPORTS

Jayhawks down Jackrabbits in baseball opener
SDSU drops Division I debut 8-2

Chris Solari
csolari@argusleader.com

published: 02/17/05

WHAT'S NEXT
Baseball: Today-Friday at Kansas

With pitchers and catchers reporting to major league training camps, the South Dakota State baseball team also headed south to get in some early-season work.

OK, so Lawrence, Kan., isn't exactly Florida or Arizona, but Wednesday's 8-2 loss to Kansas provided the Jackrabbits three different reasons to celebrate.

Besides being the first game of the 2005 season, it was Reggie Christiansen's first game as the Jackrabbits' head coach. It also was the school's debut in Division I competition.

"We went down a couple runs early," said Christiansen, who took the SDSU job after serving as an assistant for the Jayhawks for the last two seasons.

"Then I think our kids settled down and realized it was just another game of baseball. We competed and got stronger as the game went along."

Kansas (7-3) had a big advantage, playing in its 10th game of the season. Its only three losses came to sixth-ranked Stanford last week.

That edge showed early. The Jayhawks posted five runs in the first two innings off SDSU senior pitcher Francisco Torres. They added single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to make it 7-0.

SDSU got both its runs in the seventh. Senior left fielder Pat Farrell doubled home Kyle Knott, who singled, for the first run. Freshman center fielder Korby Mintken followed with a single that drove home Farrell. . . .

"We feel good about how hard these guys are working," he said. "Now, it's just a matter of us getting better."

SDSU went just 8-20 last season under interim coach Jack Reynolds, who took the reins when long-time coach Mark Ekeland was forced to resign with health problems.

Christiansen, himself only 28 years old, has a relatively young squad to work with. Mintken was one of four freshmen starters in the lineup Wednesday, and only three seniors start in the field.

"We know this is a process," Christiansen said. "We're not going to turn around and win 35 games this year or next. We've got some good young players, and we're going to stick with them and understand that we'll go through some ups and downs."

First baseman Greg Geary is the top returning player, having hit .425 with 10 homers and 47 RBIs last season. Fellow senior Tony Lane is coming off a .373 season and is joined up the middle by promising sophomore shortstop Chris Iverson, a Rapid City native.

Rounding out the infield is freshman Tyson Fisher. Joining Farrell and Mintken in the outfield is freshman Nick Adams. Junior Knott, a transfer from Ridgewater (Minn.) Junior College, is serving as designated hitter.

"I think we've really got a good nucleus of kids right now," Christiansen said. "It's a matter of staying positive and getting better every day."

Right-hander Christian Larson, a redshirt freshman pitcher, gets the start today against the Jayhawks for the 3 p.m. game. Senior Josh Elliot starts the first game of Friday's doubleheader, with freshman righty Jared Huber getting the nod in the nightcap.

The four games with Kansas are the first in a long run of games for SDSU against big-named Division I schools, most of which are on the road. Dotting the 52-game schedule are games against Nebraska, Notre Dame and Kansas State.

The Jackrabbits also host Minnesota (April 13) and Creighton (April 26) for single games at Sioux Falls Stadium. . . .

Go State! ;D

[SDSUFAN]

Re: Kansas - Baseball

89 Rabbit:

Good report. I am confident that our program is going to turn some heads this year. Fransico Torres apparently has some pitching skills. ;D Cant wait to see him pitch.

[Peter_Rabbit]

Re: Kansas - Baseball

12-0 in the 5th. We got them right where we want them, the JayHawks should be tired from running around the bases and we can win the last game.

[Dakota]

Re: Kansas - Baseball

02/18/2005
Kansas Sweeps Baseball Doublheader
http://www.gojacks.com/
LAWRENCE, KS - Kansas completed a four-game sweep against South Dakota State, beating the Jackrabbits 15-2 and 14-1 in a baseball doubleheader Friday.

That makes the Jayhawks 10-3 while SDSU fell to 0-4. The Jacks will return to action March 6 vs. Butler in Evansville, IN.

Game One - A.J. Van Slyke had a bases-loaded double to drive in three runs in the first inning and went on to get three hits in the game. Travis Dunlap drove in four runs and Erik Morrison chased home three, each with a pair of hits. KU had 15 hits and SDSU pitchers walked 11. The Jacks avoided a shutout with a run in the ninth. Greg Geary reached base on an error, moved to third on a single by Pat Farrell, and scored on an infield groundout. Farrell came home on a single by Kyle Sytsma. SDSU’s hits were all singles, by Farrell, Sytsma, Nick Adams, Tony Lane, Tyson Fisher and Chris Iverson.

Game Two - KU scored twice in the first inning thanks to four walks and a passed ball. Ryan Price added a two-run double in the third. SDSU pitchers issued nine walks in the first three innings. The Jacks scored in the seventh when Farrell was hit by a pitch, Fisher walked and Adams singled to drive in Farrell. Then KU erupted for seven runs in the seventh. KU outhit SDSU 15-6 for the game and Jackrabbit pitchers walked 12 and hit two batters. KU starter Mike Zagurski scattered four hits and struckout 11 in seven innings.The three KU pitchers combined for 16 K’s.

Kansas 15, South Dakota State 2
South Dakota State 000 000 002 2-6-1
Kansas University 303 630 00x 15-15-1
Josh Elliott, Andrew Hofer (4), Tyson Bothof (5), and Kyle Sytsma
Clint Schambach, Travis Goset (6), Jacob Jean (7), Trey Randa (8), Scott Sharp (9) and Sean Richardson, Jake Kauzlarich (6), Mike Bessolo (7). WP - Schambach (1-1), LP-Elliott (0-1). HR- KU Andy Scholl.

Kansas 14, South Dakota State 1
South Dakota State 000 000 100 1-5-2
Kansas University 202 100 72x 14-10-0
Jared Huber, Tigh Surdez (2), Dalton Decker (7), Gary Olechoski (7), Kasey Keller (7), Andrew Hofer (7), Paul Fishback (8) and Kyle Sytsma, Mike Zargurski, Logan Murphy (8), Don Czyz (9) and Sean Richardson, Jake Kauzlarich (8). WP-Zargurski (2-0), LP-Huber (0-1). HR - none.

[MilwaukeeJacksAlum]

Re: Kansas - Baseball

02/18/2005
Kansas Sweeps Baseball Doublheader
http://www.gojacks.com/
LAWRENCE, KS - A.J. Van Slyke had a bases-loaded double to drive in three runs in the first inning and went on to get three hits in the game.

Anyone know if AJ Van Slyke is related to Andy Van Slyke, he of Pittsburgh Pirates fame? Just wondering.

[JACKGUYII]

Re: Kansas - Baseball

89- what was you initial assessment of the Baseball rabbits after seeing them play? I know it was our first series and we got beat up pretty good. Is there some talent to build on?

[89rabbit]

Re: Kansas - Baseball

89- what was you initial assessment of the Baseball rabbits after seeing them play? I know it was our first series and we got beat up pretty good. Is there some talent to build on?

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you, been out of town on business (actaully I am still out of town, just got back to the hotel after taking customers to the Wichita State game). Overall the rabbits played ok. We could use a little more size and speed overall and our pitching looked a few MPH slow compared to the Jayhawks. We got off to slow starts 3 of the 4 games, the Rabbits are young but they look like they can compete (sounds like the Men's B-Ball team). Coach Christiansen has the boys playing hard. They will be ok.

Go State! ;D

[SDSUFAN]

Re: Kansas - Baseball

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you, been out of town on business (actaully I am still out of town, just got back to the hotel after taking customers to the Wichita State game).  Overall the rabbits played ok.  We could use a little more size and speed overall and our pitching looked a few MPH slow compared to the Jayhawks.  We got off to slow starts 3 of the 4 games, the Rabbits are young but they look like they can compete (sounds like the Men's B-Ball team).  Coach Christiansen has the boys playing hard.  They will be ok.

Go State!  ;D

The big key with baseball and other sports is coaching and I think we got a dandy with Chrisitiansen. Also Coach Christiansen brings a completely different recruiting network which is badly needed in all sports if we are to suceed at D1. The days of signing up for varsity sports and trying out are long gone. Lets not worry either about mailing addresses of recruits. We need the best talent we can find. Often it will not be within the boundaries of under populated South Dakota.

I am anxious to see a Jack game.