Kansas University’s baseball team is in for a busy 14 days.
Over the next two weeks, the Jayhawks will eight big-time games — six against Big 12 Conference powerhouses and two against Wichita State, KU’s biggest non-conference rival.
It’s a stretch that could see the Jayhawks soar — or sputter.
The only road game in the brutal stretch is tonight, when the Jayhawks play Wichita State at Eck Stadium in Wichita. Game time is 7 p.m.
“I know the players are excited,” KU coach Ritch Price said. “Wichita State has been one of the premier programs in the country. Certainly, our goal is to get to their level of success.”
After the first showdown with the Shockers, a weekend set is slated with No. 24 Baylor at KU. Then, it’s Wichita State again Tuesday at Hoglund Ballpark, before defending national champion and 11th-ranked Texas visits Lawrence starting May 2.
If the Jayhawks (31-16) escape with a few minor scrapes, it could give them a serious case for NCAA Tournament considerations. If they come out bloodied and bruised, it may turn out to be another lost season.
“The great thing about the Big 12,” Price says, “is that each and every weekend, you play someone ranked in the Top 25. If you’re successful, it puts you in the position to make each and every weekend even more important.”
First things first, though. The Shockers bring a 30-15 record into tonight’s game. They fell out of the national rankings this week after losing three of four to Bradley during the weekend.
Still, they’re the same program that has been to six College World Series since 1988.
In addition, Wichita State officials are expecting 4,000-5,000 WSU lovers in attendance at tonight’s showdown.
Price’s take? Bring it on.
“It pumps us up,” Price said. “Whether it was LSU or Texas Tech, when we see that kind of environment, we’ve played as well as we could possibly play.”
Senior Pat Holmes (3-1, 5.26 ERA) will start for Kansas, but Price expects to use multiple pitchers throughout the night.
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Fabulous freshman: Infielder Ritchie Price broke the KU freshman record when he recorded his 55th hit of the season Sunday against Oklahoma. Price broke John Nelson’s record of 54, set in 1998. Price is hitting .325 with 15 RBIs, playing both shortstop and second base.
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Power surge: Kansas has blasted 46 home runs this season, 12 more than last season. Senior Kevin Wheeler, junior Ryan Baty and sophomore Travis Metcalf are tied for the team lead with nine each.
KU hasn’t had a player with 10 or more homers since Justin Headley hit 11 in 1997.
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Up next: Kansas starts the three-game series with Baylor at 7 p.m. Friday at Hoglund Ballpark. The Bears are sixth in the Big 12 with a 9-9 conference record. Kansas is seventh with a 6-9 mark.
The 275 fans in attendance at the Kansas University baseball team’s home opener Wednesday probably didn’t help out much in preparing the Jayhawks for their next test.
The game itself was important. KU coach Ritch Price stressed the significance of getting another game in before traveling to face No. 8 Louisiana State this weekend. KU defeated Western Illinois, 10-6, improving to 6-3 on the young season.
But the atmosphere Wednesday at Hoglund Ballpark likely was the opposite of what KU will see tonight.
Game times are 6:30 tonight, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
LSU plays home games in Alex Box Stadium, known for a shortage of empty seats. With the stadium capacity at 7,760, this weekend’s series might be a culture shock for the Jayhawks — and that’s exactly what motivated Price to schedule the series.
“It’s going to be a tough environment to play in,” Price said. “There will be 8,000 people in there that’ll be all over our players. I think we need that environment in order to take another step forward.”
Taking the next step has been Price’s theme since arriving at KU last summer. Sometimes they’re baby steps, but a victory or two in Baton Rouge, La., no doubt would be a big stride for a program looking for quick success.
“It’s going to be a good measuring tool for our club,” Price said, “as far as where we’re at now and where we need to be.”
LSU, in recent years, has been top-notch. The Tigers have won five national titles since 1991, they have appeared in 11 College World Series since 1986, and they have recorded nine 50-win seasons in the program’s storied history.
To put it in perspective, Kansas has topped 40 victories just twice, in 1993 and 1994.
This season, LSU is 4-0, sweeping a three-game set with Northwestern State and topping Centenary, 15-0, Tuesday. The Tigers averaged more than 7,600 fans in their three home games this year.
Price said the LSU series would provide a hint of things to come in the mighty Big 12 Conference.
“The big thing for us is we’re going to see plus-Division One velocity for the first time,” he said. “We’re going to see that in the Big 12, with five teams ranked in the Top 25.”
