The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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Kansas
Kyle Russell ties Baseball season home run record in 6-5 win over KU
04.07.2007 | Baseball
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Sophomore rightfield Kyle Russell hit two home runs to lead No. 7 Texas to a 6-5 win over Kansas in a Big 12 Conference game Saturday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark.
The two home runs give Russell 20 in 2007, tying the single-season school record set by Jeff Ontiveros in 2002. In the game, Russell went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI.
Longhorns' closer Randy Boone (1-5) earned the victory in his longest relief outing of the season. He pitched 4.1 innings, scattering one run on five hits while striking out six Jayhawks.
Texas (28-10, 9-3) broke the scoring seal in the top of the second when Nick Peoples blasted a solo home run to dead centerfield, staking UT to a 1-0 lead.
Russell's first home run came in the fifth inning to inflate the cushion to 4-0. Josh Prince drew a walk to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Travis Tucker. Jordan Danks walked to set up Russell's three-run blast over the fence in right centerfield.
Kansas (18-20, 4-8) tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Buck Afenir hit a leadoff double and Preston Land drew a walk to put runners at first and second. After a pair of fly outs, Robby Price hit a single to centerfield, plating Afenir for the Jayhawks' first run. The Longhorns appeared to be out of the inning when starter Joseph Krebs induced a ground ball by John Allman, but it was misplayed by Tucker at second base, loading the bases. Brock Simpson followed with a two-run single to leftfield to drive Krebs out of the game and Erik Morrison tied the game at 4-4 with a double off Boone on his first pitch.
The Jayhawks claimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Kyle Murphy hit a single to rightfield to plate Land.
Russell added his second homer in the seventh when he deposited a two-out, 1-1 pitch over the wall in left centerfield.
Texas took the lead in the eighth inning. Peoples led off the frame with a single to centerfield and scored on a double off the centerfield wall by Russell Moldenhauer.
Peoples and Chance Wheeless had standout performances at the plate for Texas. Wheeless went 2-for-5 to extend his career-long hit streak to 15 games. Peoples went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and one home run.
Kansas was led by Price and Afenir who each had three hits in the game. Simpson went 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Paul Smyth (2-2) was saddled with the loss for Kansas. He yielded one run on three hits over 2.1 innings.
Texas returns to action on Friday with the Longhorns hosting Texas Tech in a 6:05 p.m. contest at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
