Box Score LAWRENCE, Kan. - The University of Kansas (10-10) ran out to a 4-0 lead on Tuesday afternoon and held the UALR baseball team hitless over the final four innings to pick up a 5-3 non-conference victory at Hoglund Ballpark. UALR (10-10) scored three runs in the top of the fifth to make it a 4-3 contest, but three KU relievers combined to retire the final 13 Trojans in-order and secure the win.
KU starter Wally Marciel (3-2) was credited with the win after holding the Trojans to four hits and two runs over 4.1 innings. Marciel opened the game with four-straight scoreless innings, but ran into trouble in the top of the fifth after allowing a leadoff solo homer to sophomore Myles Parma - his first of the year. Walks to juniors Greg Garcia and Sean Bignall set the stage for a two-run single by senior Jake Rowell, which brought the Trojans within a run, 4-3.
Kansas' Thomas Taylor induced an inning ending 6-4-3 double play from the next Trojan batter after Rowell's base knock, and then combined with Jordan Jakubov and Frank Duncan to hold UALR hitless over the final four frames. Duncan worked a perfect ninth to pick up his first save of the year.
The Jayhawks got on the board in the bottom of the second as Brandon Macias was hit by a pitch to start of the inning and eventually scored on a double play ball. KU extended its lead to 4-0 in the third after opening the frame with back-to-back singles by Kevin Kuntz and Jordan Brown. Casey Lytle plated the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right, and Zac Elgie capped off the three-run rally with a two-run double down the left field line.
Designated hitter James Stanfield hit a triple to right center in the bottom of the sixth to help Kansas tack on an insurance run. Tucker Tharp came on to run for Stanfield and scored from third two batters later on a grounder by Kuntz.
UALR senior Daniel Golden (2-2) took the loss after allowing six hits and four runs (two earned) over 5.0 innings. Junior Dillon Wilson worked 1.2 innings in relief of Golden, while sophomore Bubba Cooper closed out the game by retiring all four batters he faced.
UALR returns to Sun Belt Conference action this weekend (March 25-27) with a three-game series at Troy.
