KANSAS AND SAM HOUSTON STATE BATTLE TO A TIE
Contact: Mike Bond, UTPA Assistant Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

EDINBURG, TX - In baseball, Kansas and Sam Houston State battled to an 8-8 tie at the UTPA/Al Ogletree Classic at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium early Sunday afternoon.

Kansas struck first as first baseman Ryan Baty singled to left field to drive in shortstop Ritchie Price to make it 1-0 after one inning. In the second inning, designated hitter Jared Schweitzer singled to left field followed by another single to left, this one by center fielder A.J. Van Slyke. Second baseman Matt Baty then ripped a double down the left field line to score Schweitzer. Price grounded out to second base to score Van Slyke and make it 3-0.

The Bearkats broke the shutout in the bottom of the second as catcher Aaron Ruchti doubled to left field to score right fielder Dustin Martin. In the third inning, Sam Houston State picked up another run when designated hitter Andrew Kasparek singled up the middle to drive in leftfielder Marshall Williams. That made it 3-2, Kansas, after three innings.

The Jayhawks eventually got those two runs back. In the fourth inning, Price singled to score Matt Baty. In the sixth inning, with two outs, Matt Baty drew a walk. Pitcher Casey Springer's pick off attempt bounced off the wall and down the right field line to allow Baty to get to third. Price then drew a walk to put runners at the corners. Price was caught in a rundown but delayed getting caught long enough for Baty to cross the plate to make it 5-2.

The fireworks began in the seventh inning. In the top of the seventh, Kansas got a double to left center field from Ryan Baty. Chris Gressett came in to pitch, and right fielder Matt Tribble sent his first pitch over the right field wall for a two run homer. The Bearkats came back strong in the bottom of the seventh with lead off singles from center fielder Roy Merritt and shortstop Jeremy Holzbach. Williams then laced a double to left center field to drive in Merritt and Holzbach. Clint Schambach came in to pitch and saw his first pitch sail into the left field bull pen off the bat of first baseman Jonathan Stone for a two run homer to make it 7-6.

In the eighth inning, Schweitzer led off with a home run to left field to put the Jayhawks up 8-6. In the bottom of the eighth pinch hitter Karl Krailo singled to center field. Preston Hager came in to run for Krailo and went to second on a single by Merritt. Holzbach laid down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher to move the runners up. Following a ground out, Stone crushed a doubled to left center field to drive in Hager and Merritt. The Jayhawks intentionally walked Kasparek to set up a force play. The game ended when third baseman Matt Emerson lined out to second base.

Due to a 2:45 p.m. curfew, the game ended in an 8-8 tie. For Kansas (7-4-1, 0-2-1 in the tournament) Price was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, Ryan Baty was 3-for-5 and Schweitzer was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. For Sam Houston State (1-1-1), Holzbach was 3-for-3, Stone was 2-for-4 with four RBI's and Merritt was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

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