Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Fresh off from being swept at home in three games for the first time since 2005, Kansas finds itself just as desperate for a boost in confidence as it is for a victory.
However, the Jayhawks’ opponent tonight has offered little assistance in either category lately. No. 12 Wichita State (20-3) comes to town for tonight’s 7 p.m. grudge match, bringing a 17-game winning streak with it. The Shockers have also won three straight against the Jayhawks by a combined score of 24-4.
Fresehman third baseman Tony Thompson looks behind first base for the overthrown ball by the Benedictine College catcher. Thompson advanced to second on the play, and was 2-2 at bat with two runs through the bottom of the sixth inning Wednesday night at Hoglund Ballpark.
Under coach Ritch Price, Kansas (18-12) has its work cut out for it to get back on the winning track, and inch closer to .500 against Wichita State.
“We were dead .500 with them until last year, then they beat us twice last year,” Price, who is 5-7 all-time against Wichita State, said. “Usually they walk in here and pitch one of their best guys because of the difference in the leagues that we play in.
“It’s a great rivalry and it’s one of those games where we’ve got to find a way to win.”
Price is alluding to the fact that the Shockers haven’t exactly been playing a tiptop competition. Wichita State has beaten North Dakota State (6-11), Binghamton (7-15), Illinois State (9-13), Harvard (1-16) and Le Moyne (9-14) for 13 of its 17 consecutive victories.
Based off Wichita statistics, the Jayhawks won’t see any of the Shockers aces to start tonight’s game. Wichita State’s probable pitcher tonight is right-hander Tim Kelley (2-1). Kelley has started all four games he’s appeared this year in and, in 17 innings pitched, has a 5.29 ERA. He also has 12 strikeouts to five walks and has surrendered two home runs.
Even if the Jayhawks can knock Kelley around, they’ll have to find a way to contain a Shocker offense that’s averaging nearly eight runs a game. As of Monday, Kansas hadn’t announced who its starter would be. Price previously planned on senior right-hander Andres Esquibel pitching tonight, but Esquibel pitched six innings of relief during the weekend, so he may no longer be an option.
Seven of Wichita State’s eight players with at least 60 at-bats this season are batting over .300 with on-base percentages over .400. Third baseman Conor Gillaspie leads the Shockers with a .435 average and .485 on-base percentage while shortstop Dusty Coleman leads the team with five home runs and 32 RBI.
Kansas’ offense wasn’t the problem during its weekend loss at the hands of Texas A&M. The Jayhawks scored 20 runs in the series and have scored at least six runs their last seven games.
Senior left fielder John Allman continues to be Mr. Consistency for the Jayhawks, upping his average to .384 with a 5-for-9 weekend, including four RBI and three runs. Senior right fielder Ryne Price leads Kansas with six home runs and 35 RBI.
However, Kansas also needs senior shortstop Erik Morrison to step up on offense. Morrison entered Sunday in a 3-for-26 slump, but he may have snapped out of it in the series finale. Against the Aggies Sunday, Morrison went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI.
Despite the disappointing weekend, Morrison doesn’t expect his teammates to experience any letdown tonight in a midweek game of this magnitude.
“Any game against Wichita State is going to be heated and if you can’t get up for that game, then I don’t know what you can get up for,” Morrison said.
— Edited by Mandy Earles
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