The Jayhawks were penciled in for six games in six days before Rockhurst canceled Tuesday’s game.

But five games in four days is no cake walk, either.

That stretch starts tonight at 6 against Missouri State (20-26, 5-13 Missouri Valley Conference).

Running out of options and time, coach Ritch Price wanted to try jump-starting his team’s offense by putting together a schedule like Major League teams use. Kansas added Tuesday’s game last week to make up for cancelled contests against Bethany and St. Mary.

Now unable to makeup the makeup game, Price may not be as able to work with the younger lineup tonight that he planned on using against Rockhurst. He said he hasn’t been able to get those younger players in the lineup much since conference play started.

“That’s the reality is that your backup guys don’t get to play once you get in this great league,” Price said.

Although the Bears defeated the Jayhawks, 7-2, in Springfield, Mo., this March, they have also stumbled in the latter half of the season.

Missouri State’s 13-2 victory at Evansville on Sunday snapped a 13-game losing streak.

Center fielder Ben Woodbury continues to lead the Bears’ offense, hitting a solid .325. Woodbury went 2-for-4, including a three-run home run, against Kansas in March.

The Evansville victory capped off a strong offensive burst for Missouri State, while the Bears hadn’t won a game in 29 days until Sunday they’ve tagged 19 extra base hits in their last five contests for a .304 team average.

By the weekend, Kansas will be just one game down with four to go when Chicago State rolls in to Hoglund Ballpark. The four-game set against the Cougars, which includes a doubleheader on Saturday, starts Friday at 7 p.m.

“For us right now we need to play well this week,” Price said. “Get back to .500 this week and try to get the series from Nebraska to salvage the season.”

The weekend may or may not feature the Jayhawks’ usual Saturday night starting pitcher, sophomore lefty Nick Czyz. Czyz tossed the shortest outing of the season last Saturday against K-State, surrendering four runs in a 2/3-inning appearance.

After he missed a start at Texas Tech not quite three weeks ago because of a sore pitching arm, Price isn’t taking any chances.

“Because we’ve all watched him pitch all year and that isn’t the same guy we’ve seen all season,” Price said. “It is the time of the year when guys are starting to feel beat up at the end of the season, but at the same time we need to make sure he’s OK.”

At the plate, the Jayhawks were able to count on outfielders Kyle Murphy and John Allman, along with sophomore catcher Buck Afenir again last weekend. Picking his team up, Afenir’s two-run double on Saturday against the Wildcats accounted for half of Kansas’ runs. Murphy and Allman each hit in both games against the Wildcats, but are now the only starters with an average of more than .300.

Nevertheless, Afenir gave credit to his coach for keeping the teams’ head up and keeping them focused and confident for what lies ahead.

“It’s tougher on the players,” Price said. “I’m trying to do everything I can to stay positive. I’ve played and I’ve coached 29 years and I understand when you're struggling, all you’re doing is making it worse if you don’t handle it right as the coach. We’re trying to be positive and let our players play through it.”

Kansan senior sportswriter Alissa Bauer can be contacted at abauer@kansan.com.

— Edited by Ryan Schneider