Wichita ? When Kansas University plays baseball against Wichita State, the Baty brothers always bring their A-game.
Senior Ryan Baty and sophomore Matt Baty, who hail from Wichita, will be fired up as usual when the Jayhawks tangle with the Shockers tonight.
Game time is 7 p.m. at Eck Stadium.
“We’ve just got to win the game,” said Matt, a Maize High graduate who — like his older brother — did not receive recruiting interest from WSU. “We’re going through a little struggle right now, and this is the perfect game to get back on track.”
The Jayhawks started the season by winning 21 of their first 31 games, but they’re only 2-10 against Big 12 Conference foes after being swept last weekend at Oklahoma State.
“There’s nobody in our dugout that’s not disappointed in our record,” KU coach Ritch Price said. “At the same time, we’re better in every phase of the game than we were a year ago.”
The Jayhawks are certainly hitting better. They lead the league with a .322 team batting average, thanks in large part to Matt Baty who owns a .376 batting average, the third highest in the league. He also leads the league with 23 stolen bases.
Kansas, which thumped WSU, 13-6, April 7 at Hoglund Ballpark, has split with the 12th-ranked Shockers the last two seasons.
Ryan Baty, a former Wichita Northwest standout who leads the Big 12 in doubles with 16, thought a sweep this year could create a spark for the remainder of the conference season.
“To this team, perception is reality,” he said. “When we see that, and we actually realize the potential we have, then we’re going to go on a run and be hard to stop. But until then, we’re going to be a little shaky.”
The pitching certainly has been shaky. The Jayhawks have dropped to last in the league with a 4.76 team earned run average. KU hurlers have surrendered more walks and home runs than any other conference staff.
Kansas, 24-19-1 overall, will travel to Waco, Texas, this weekend for a three-game series with Baylor.
