Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan.? Despite a strong start on the mound through the first three innings, the Shockers were unable to keep the Jayhawk bats quiet as they fell on a chilly Lawrence night, 8-0.

The Shockers were led by freshman third baseman Chris O'Brien who had a 1-for-3 day at the plate and junior Ryan Jones who extended his hitting streak to 16 games. His hit streak tied a career high, when he doubled in the top of the first. The right fielder went 1-for-4 on Wednesday.

Junior second baseman Robby Price led the Jayhawks at the plate, going 3-for-5 with four RBI, while shortstop David Narodowski went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Jones jumped on Jayhawk starter Lee Ridenhour early when he doubled to right centerfield in the top of the first. The one-out double extended Jones' hit streak, but was the only hit the right-hander gave up in the inning.

In the bottom half of the inning, Brian Flynn sat the first two Jayhawks down on strikes before surrendering a two-out double to Narodowski, who would also find himself stranded on second. Despite the 30 degree temperature when the first pitch was delivered, Flynn started the night sizzling. He struck out the side in the bottom of the second en route to picking up his career-high fifth strikeout.

After three scoreless innings of work, however, Flynn hit a wall. Price led off the bottom of the fourth with a homerun to right. Narodowski followed that with a walk before scoring on an infield single by third baseman Tony Thompson. Like Jones, Thompson was also able to extend a career-high hitting streak. His moved to 20 games Wednesday night.

Flynn never recovered, but freshman right-hander Dalton Banwart quickly shut down the scoring rally the Jayhawks were looking to start. Despite falling to a 2-0 early deficit, Banwart ended the one out, bases-loaded threat when he coaxed a double play to end the inning.

Unfortunately for the Shockers, the threat was ready and waiting again in the top of the fifth. Price struck again when he drove in centerfielder Jason Brunansky, who tripled to lead off the inning. Banwart would surrender another base knock before senior Max Hutson took over. Despite shortstop Taylor Brown's diving grab on a sharp grounder up the middle, it provided enough time for Price to cross the plate and put the Jayhawks ahead, 4-0. Stringing together a pair of walks and a clutch double, the Jayhawks were able to plate three more in the bottom of the sixth.

Chance Sossamon surrendered the only run of his relief effort when a two-out double plated the Jayhawks' final run of the evening in the bottom of the eighth. The RBI double was also the only hit the freshman right-hander allowed in his 2.1 innings on the mound.

Flynn (0-1) took the loss on Wednesday, surrendering two runs on three hits in his 3.1 innings of work. Ridenhour moved to 3-0 on the season after his eight-inning shutout performance.

The Shockers head back home for a three-game series this weekend against No. 11 Pepperdine. The first pitch is set for Friday, Mar. 13 at 3 p.m.

-Wichita State-