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THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BASEBALL
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Sophomore third baseman Colby Wright runs down a baserunner after getting into a pickle. Wright made a costly error in the top of the ninth that resulted in the go ahead run for Missouri State.
Kansas heads to Waco after loss to Missouri State
BEN FELDERSTEIN sports@kansan.com
The Kansas baseball team will travel to Waco, Texas, this weekend to take on Baylor in a Big 12 Conference series. The Jayhawks are coming off of a Wednesday loss to Missouri
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State, 6-5. Kansas has fallen to 23-20 on the season.
The Baylor Bears are 19-21 on the season and lost their last Big 12 series to Kansas State in Manhattan. The Bears have struggled on the season, as they are 5-9 in conference after having dropped three straight.
The Jayhawks have been struggling as of recently, they have lost four straight games and eight of their last ten. Kansas is 6-9 in the Big 12 this season and haven't won a series since they played the Wildcats in Manhattan.
The Jayhawks will win the series if...
Sunday. If the Jayhawks can salvage a win in one of the first two games of the series, they will be in a good position to win the series. Duncan leads Kansas starters with a 2.09 ERA on the season. The senior has been the stopper for Kansas this season on Sundays. Duncan has a 4-2 record on the season and has gone the distance three times. He has struck out 60 batters on the season and has only walked 11 batters. Duncan has truly stepped up in his senior role and gives Kansas a great chance to win every time he steps on the mound.
"Baylor is a pesky team," said junior shortstop Justin Protocio. "They like to bunt."
Kansas' starting pitchers don't go deep into games. The Jayhawks' pitching staff is depleted. Friday night starter Wes Benjamin is out for the season having Tommy John surgery. Senior right-hander Jordan Piche has been starting for Kansas and has struggled, allowing 17 runs in his first three starts. Kansas will need the starters to pitch a lot of innings and get the ball to freshman right-hander Stephen Villines with a lead.
Senior pitcher Frank Duncan will get the start for Kansas on
Player to watch
- Edited by Blair Sheade
"Baseball is all about the team effort. Small ball is a huge part of that."
RITCH PRICE Coach
Kansas starts to play cleaner baseball. In the beginning of the season, the Jayhawks played clean, smooth defense and their pitchers were confident in their defenders. The Jayhawks lost to Missouri State on an error as the final run was unearned. Kansas also needs to stay hot with the bat. The Jayhawks remain in the top 5 in the Big 12 in team
batting average, and junior outfieldier Michael Suiter remains in the top 10 for batting average. Suiter went 5-5 against Missouri State
increasing his batting average to.355 on the season.
The Jayhawks will lose the series if
"Baseball is all about the team effort," coach Ritch Price said. "Small ball is a huge part of that."
When Kansas is doing well, it plays small ball as well.
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