Wednesday, April 18, 2007
It was April 1992 the last time Kansas endured a 15 run beating at the hands of Wichita State.
KANSAN
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Until last month’s 18-3 loss to the Shockers, the Jayhawks (19-22) have held their own against the state’s most historic baseball program. In the Ritch Price era, Kansas was dead even with No. 10 Wichita State (30-8) until the loss March 14, giving Wichita State the slight 6-5 advantage. The Jayhawks will travel to Wichita for a rematch against the Shockers at 7 p.m. tonight.
“Obviously we need to get that game under our belt then have some momentum for the weekend,” Price said. “We’ve just got to keep playing. Our guys are playing as good as they can play.”
The Shockers not only have Eck Stadium’s nearly 8,000 fan capacity advantage, but the hosts are also the hotter team. Earning their top 10 in the nation status, the Shockers are 7-3 in their last 10 contests. They’ve also taken their last six straight, including a weekend sweep against Missouri Valley Conference opponent Southern Illinois.
In sharp contrast, the Jayhawks are 3-7 in their last 10 games. While Wichita State was sweeping a conference nemesis, Baylor was handing Kansas its fifth straight Big 12 series loss.
“I still think when they’re done, they’ll finish fifth,” Price said of Baylor. “They opened the season in the top 25 and that’s the best pitching that we’ve seen all year in our conference.”
Albeit young, the Jayhawks will likely see more quality pitching tonight in Wichita, a club known more for its pitching than its offense that put up 18 runs against the Jayhawks a month ago.
Freshman lefty Tyson Fugett (0-0, 3.12) is scheduled to take the mound for the Shockers. Fugett has thrown just 8 2/3 innings in five appearances but has struck out nine.
On the other side of the ball, junior right-hander Andres Esquibel (5-3, 5.76) will look to hold the run count to a much slimmer number than the teams’ last match-up. In 45 1/3 innings of work, the midweek starter has sat 45 opponents down on strikes.
Esquibel has also allowed just five home runs this season, which could prove quite helpful. Although they’ve only knocked 14 out this season, the Shockers tallied three home runs against Kansas in their last outing.
The Jayhawks, however, love the long ball and have 36 home runs as a team. Nevertheless, Wichita State still carries the offensive edge heading into tonight’s game.
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The top eight teams get a chance to go to the Big 12 tournament and that’s our goal as of right now. We’ve got our work cut out for us.
-Erik Morrison, junior shortstop
Before taking on Oral Roberts last night, eight of Wichita State’s staring nine position players were hitting .300 or better. Last week’s MVC player of the week, Conor Gillaspie, had an outstanding week going 8-15 with seven runs, four doubles, a triple and five RBI.
Yet, the sophomore third baseman ranks third on the team with a .353 average.
The Jayhawks are bringing a hot bat with them, as well. Freshman third baseman Robby Price went 6-for-12 with a pair of RBI this weekend against Baylor, tallying a hit in each game of the series.
One more testament to the Jayhawks being down, but not out.
“It’s big,” Erik Morrison, junior shortstop said, referring to Kansas’ sole ownership of the Big 12’s last place. “The top eight teams get a chance to go to the Big 12 tournament and that’s our goal as of right now. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
Kansan senior sportswriter Alissa Bauer can be contacted at abauer@kansan.com.
— Edited by Stacey Couch
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