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Here’s what WSU basketball fans may have missed with Shockers’ spring sports
Now that the men’s basketball season has come to a close, Shockers fans can turn their attention to spring sports. BASEBALL
What you missed: A disappointing series split against Rhode Island dropped WSU to a 7-11 start to the season, but the Shockers have bounced back to win 11 of their last 14 games to move to 18-14 on the season and 3-3 in conference play. The streak included mid-week wins over Kansas (twice) and Kansas State, as well as a series win over Memphis to start AAC play. The Shockers rallied from an 11-5 deficit in the ninth inning to beat Tulane, 12-11, in extra innings this weekend.
Why to watch: The Shockers are vying for their first NCAA Regional appearance since Gene Stephenson’s final season in 2013. While an 18-14 record doesn’t stand out, WSU’s RPI has been skyrocketing since its 11-3 stretch the last three weeks and now rests at 58. The Shockers also feature one of the top offenses in the conference, highlighted by career years from senior middle infielders Luke Ritter and Jordan Boyer. Ritter leads the conference in on-base percentage (.513) to go along with team-highs in batting average (.398), runs scored (35), hits (49), doubles (11), home runs (7) and runs batted in (28), while Boyer is hitting .382 for the fourth-best average in the AAC.
What’s coming up: WSU plays its next eight games at Eck Stadium with all coming against top-75 RPI competition. It’s a crucial stretch for the Shockers, as they have a chance with a good next two weeks to bolster an at-large bid to an NCAA Regional. It starts Wednesday with a 7 p.m. game against Oklahoma State (19-10, RPI 25), then continues with a weekend series starting at 7 p.m. Friday against Houston (17-15, RPI 74). Next week brings games against Central Florida (20-11, RPI 35) from April 18-20, followed by a Tuesday game on April 23 against Oklahoma (23-9, RPI 36).
Now that the men’s basketball season has come to a close, Shockers fans can turn their attention to spring sports. BASEBALL
What you missed: A disappointing series split against Rhode Island dropped WSU to a 7-11 start to the season, but the Shockers have bounced back to win 11 of their last 14 games to move to 18-14 on the season and 3-3 in conference play. The streak included mid-week wins over Kansas (twice) and Kansas State, as well as a series win over Memphis to start AAC play. The Shockers rallied from an 11-5 deficit in the ninth inning to beat Tulane, 12-11, in extra innings this weekend.
Why to watch: The Shockers are vying for their first NCAA Regional appearance since Gene Stephenson’s final season in 2013. While an 18-14 record doesn’t stand out, WSU’s RPI has been skyrocketing since its 11-3 stretch the last three weeks and now rests at 58. The Shockers also feature one of the top offenses in the conference, highlighted by career years from senior middle infielders Luke Ritter and Jordan Boyer. Ritter leads the conference in on-base percentage (.513) to go along with team-highs in batting average (.398), runs scored (35), hits (49), doubles (11), home runs (7) and runs batted in (28), while Boyer is hitting .382 for the fourth-best average in the AAC.
What’s coming up: WSU plays its next eight games at Eck Stadium with all coming against top-75 RPI competition. It’s a crucial stretch for the Shockers, as they have a chance with a good next two weeks to bolster an at-large bid to an NCAA Regional. It starts Wednesday with a 7 p.m. game against Oklahoma State (19-10, RPI 25), then continues with a weekend series starting at 7 p.m. Friday against Houston (17-15, RPI 74). Next week brings games against Central Florida (20-11, RPI 35) from April 18-20, followed by a Tuesday game on April 23 against Oklahoma (23-9, RPI 36).
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