Stuck in a four-game losing skid, Kansas University’s baseball team would love to bust out by toppling in-state rival and nationally ranked Wichita State.
The Jayhawks (22-14-1) will get that chance at 7 tonight when the No. 10-ranked Shockers (16-3) visit Hoglund Ballpark for the first of two meetings this year.
The second will be April 21 at WSU’s Eck Stadium.
Although Wichita State has dominated the series, boasting a 36-17 edge, the squads split a two-game series each of the last two years — which could indicate the Jayhawks are approaching the competitive greatness Wichita State has maintained.
KU second-year coach Ritch Price certainly hopes so.
“One of the things we have to do at Kansas is get our program on par with theirs,” he said. “It’s a huge rivalry, and we’ve won a couple recruiting battles with them this fall for kids next year that turned down Wichita State to sign with us.”
Kansas took strides a year ago under Price, logging a 35-28 record and the third-most wins in school history — one win was a 7-3 pounding of the Shockers on May 7 at WSU. It was a 13-win improvement from 2002, but didn’t quite match Wichita State’s steady 49-27 record and NCAA Regional appearance.
Still, it was progress.
“We’re trying to take a step up,” Price said. “We want to be the best team in the state of Kansas, and that goes through Wichita.”
The Shockers have maintained their stranglehold on the “Best Team in Kansas” title because of solid hitting and talented pitching.
Their greatest weakness seems to be playing on the road — WSU is just 4-3 away from home. Kansas has dropped three straight in Hoglund Ballpark, however, so that stat may be moot.
Even when Wichita State drilled Kansas on a regular basis, the matchup attracted large, boisterous crowds. Now that both squads are strong, Wichita native and KU senior first-baseman Ryan Baty said tensions were at an all-time high.
“For my brother (second baseman Matt Baty) and I, it’s always a great week,” he said. “It’s always a great time. They’re good, and we’re excited. We’re ready to get rolling on a winning streak right now, and there’s no better team to do that against than Wichita State.”