Shocks @ Kansas

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks bookend their weekend series at Bradley with a home and home against Kansas starting Tuesday at 6:00 pm in Lawrence with the return game next Wednesday
in Wichita.

Kansas is 14-17 overall and 4-5 in Big 12 play. They are hitting .230 as a team with an OPS of .621 with 7 home runs in 31 games and are scoring an average of 3.87 runs per game.

On the mound the Jayhawks have an ERA of 4.17 and have allowed 4.87 runs per game.

The Shocks (16-15, 2-1) team batting average has "jumped up" to .249 with an OPS of .689 with 12 home runs in 31 games and are scoring an average of 5.00 runs per game.

On the mound the Shocks have an ERA of 4.09 and have allowed 4.87 runs per game.

One of the few times this year that the Shocks appear to have the edge on offense. The game will no doubt boil down to who can get the most effective mid-week pitching.

HCTB is 1-5 against KU at Wichita State with the only victory a 7-6 win last May in Eck Stadium. Definitely need to get that turned around.

Weather looks to be decent.

[Play Angry]

Per the Game Notes, tonight's expected starters are Keylan Kilgore (0-1, 5.14 ERA) vs. Zack Leban (2-1, 1.37 ERA).

If Kilgore gets the nod this will almost certainly be a pre-determined split.

[shockfan89_]

KU does seem very similar to WSU. Their record isn't quite as good but they are 5-10 against RPI top 50 and 2-4 against RPI 51-100. 21 of their 31 games have been against top 100 RPI teams compared to WSU 12 of our 31 games have been against top 100 RPI teams. KU has several opponents in common with WSU. Results below:

KU
2/21 - Omaha - W 11-0
2/28 - ORU - L 1-12
3/8 - Omaha - W 6-5
3/15 - @ ORU - W 7-2
4/4 - @ MSU - W 4-2
4/13-15 OSU - TBD

WSU
3/7 - Omaha - W 8-0
3/21 - @ ORU - L 4-7

[1972Shocker]

Per the Game Notes, tonight's expected starters are Keylan Kilgore (0-1, 5.14 ERA) vs. Zack Leban (2-1, 1.37 ERA).

If Kilgore gets the nod this will almost certainly be a pre-determined split.

Leban has pretty good numbers but he has pitched 19.2 innings in 14 outiings so he averages about 1.4 innings per outing. There is good liklihood that KU will split it up as well.

Mike Kennedy and Shane Dennis speculated that Keylan would get the start against KU and that WSU would likely split it up. However, they pointed out that looing forward to the Valley Tournament the Shocks will need a 4th starter and that if Keylan was effective they might let him go as long as he can in hopes of finding/developing that 4th starter for the Valley Tournament.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks remaining mid-week games:

Tuesday, 04/11/17 - @ Kansas
Wednesday, 04/19/17 - Kansas
Tuesday, 04/25/17 - @ Creighton
Tuesday, 05/02/17 - @ K-State
Tuesday, 05/09/17 - Oral Roberts
Tuesday, 05/16/17 - Kansas State

Possible Make-up Game - Okahoma State if a mutually acceptable date can be found. OSU has a couple of weeks with no mid-week games scheduled. The weeks we play at K-State and host ORU. WSU has no open weeks. Whether WSU will want to double up in mid-week games in the middle of Valley play remains to be seen. Clearly OSU would prefer one of their two open weeks.

[1972Shocker]

Keylan Kilgore allows a single, sac bunt and RBI single in the 1st as KU takes a 1-0 lead.

Alex Jackson doubles down the LF line and Trey Vickers followed with a home run to left in the top of the 2nd to answer and the Shocks lead early 2-1.

[ShockerFever]

Go to the ESPN 3 page, and there's about 20 college baseball games available to watch. There's one game on the list that's "subject to blackout".

Thanks WSU and Cox for alienating a fan that actually was trying to watch a WSU baseball game tonight. Why should I care anymore if they're gonna keep the tens of fans that still and try to follow the program from following it?

[1972Shocker]

Keylan surrenders a lead off home run in the bottom of the 3rd as KU knots the score at 2-2. Keylan than strikes out the next 3 guys.

[Dave Stalwart]

Go to the ESPN 3 page, and there's about 20 college baseball games available to watch. There's one game on the list that's "subject to blackout".

Thanks WSU and Cox for alienating a fan that actually was trying to watch a WSU baseball game tonight. Why should I care anymore if they're gonna keep the tens of fans that still and try to follow the program from following it?

Maybe they are trying to protect viewers from watching WSU in the Butler era.

[Shoxdad1969]

Keylan surrenders a lead off home run in the bottom of the 3rd as KU knots the score at 2-2. Keylan than strikes out the next 3 guys.

Showed a lot of sac for a Freshman that is looking for innings and just gave up a HR

[1972Shocker]

An Alec Bohm walk, an Alex Jackson single and a fielder's choice grounder by Trey Vickers purhes across a run for the Shocks in the Top of the 4th to put them up 3-2.

[1972Shocker]

Willie Schwanke is 0-2 today but the guy seems to make solid contact on most of his AB's.

[1972Shocker]

Greyson Jenista walked with 2 outs in the top of the 5th. Luke Ritter, who was 2 of his last 28 drove a ball over the left field wall. Shocks lead 5-2. Good for Luke.

Alex Bohm follows with a triple to left center.

[shocks02]

2-run homer for Luke Ritter and its 5-2 Shockers.

[WuShock16]

A KU outfielder crashed into the wall in left-center field and detached one of the wall panels. Game is delayed while it is fixed.