So much for that four-game losing streak.
After shellacking No. 10-ranked Wichita State Wednesday night, Kansas University’s baseball team is riding a wave of positive vibes heading into its three-game weekend series against No. 15-ranked Texas A&M.
“We want to take our first Big 12 series, and it’s a lot of momentum and a lot of good energy going into this weekend,” KU third baseman Travis Metcalf said.
The opener will be at 6 tonight at Hoglund Ballpark. Senior lefty Ryan Knippschild (3.58 earned-run average, 5-4) is expected to be KU’s starting pitcher.
Against the Shockers, Kansas (23-14-1 overall, 1-5 Big 12 Conference) received home runs from Matt Baty, Sean Richardson and Metcalf (his league-leading 13th) in the 13-6 victory.
Despite being in the league cellar, second-year coach Ritch Price believes his club is very close to turning the corner in the conference.
“You take two innings out of the first two series we played, we’d be 3-3 in conference,” Price said. “My big thing is, I’ve just got to stay positive and get our kids to keep playing and play through it, because I still believe we’ll be in the first five in our league before it’s over. I think we’re that good offensively, and we’re that good defensively.”
The Aggies (27-8, 4-5) have six starters hitting .300 or better, including Austin Boggs’ team-leading .391 average. Jason Meyer is the ace in their pitching rotation. The red-shirt freshman left-hander has a 5-0 record and 1.35 ERA.
“A&M’s just as good (as Wichita State),” second-baseman Matt Baty said. “We’ve got to be heads-up for them. They’ve got three quality starters, a great bullpen, and they can hit better than anybody in the Big 12.”
After this weekend, the Jayhawks’ next eight games will be on the road. They won’t play at Hoglund again until Texas Tech comes to town April 30-May 2.
