Jayhawks rock Tabor

KU empties bench during 15-1 victory

Kansas University baseball coach Ritch Price was happy his team finally played a midweek game Wednesday afternoon, but he had a few other things to smile about after a 15-1 thrashing of Tabor at Hoglund Ballpark.

Price had scheduled a “staff day” for his pitching rotation, letting seven pitchers see action in one- or two-inning intervals.

After taking a 12-0 lead into the top of the fifth inning, the staff-day policy extended into the hitting lineup as six players were switched on the scorecard, allowing plenty of Jayhawks to improve their statistics.

Kansas (15-8-1) ended the afternoon with 11 players recording a collective 20 hits, compared to five hits for Tabor (5-8).

“I like to refer to it as a great teammate day,” Price said.

The biggest thrill of the game for the Jayhawks came in the bottom of the fifth.

The outcome already was decided when junior Mike Bessolo saw a rare plate appearance. When he went deep over the left-field wall, all the Jayhawks were on their feet.

“It takes a lot of passion to have that role,” Price said of his backup catcher, whose primary duty is to warm up relievers.

After a quiet first inning, the Jayhawks made the stats of Bluejay starting pitcher Zavien Rivers black and blue in the second and fourth innings, knocking in a combined 12 runs off 12 hits.

In both innings, Kansas went through the starting batting order and then some.

Sophomore Jared Schweitzer and junior Travis Metcalf each belted a home run. Metcalf had his team-leading eighth homer in the fourth inning with a two-run rocket to center field.

“I was just kind of upset after striking out before,” Metcalf said. “I was looking for a first-pitch fastball and he got me one.”

A single in the second extended senior Matt Tribble’s hitting streak to 15 games — something he tries not too think about it too much.

“I think sometimes it gets in your head especially if it’s late in the game and you haven’t had a hit,” Tribble said, “but before the game I say to myself that I can only control what I can control.”

Sean Land (2-0) picked up the win for KU after allowing no hits and recording two strikeouts in the opening two innings.

“We think he’s got a bright future,” Price said of the freshman left-hander.

Kansas will finish its 12-game homestand — in which KU has gone 8-1 — this weekend with a three-game series against Arkansas-Little Rock, starting Friday.

KU senior pitcher Ryan Knippschild is set to go against the Trojans’ Bennett Cromer in the opener.

KU shortstop Ritchie Price makes a play against Tabor. The Jayhawks won Wednesday at Hoglund Ballpark.