THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015
PAGE 7B
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Jayhawks prepare for showdown with Cowboys
WESLEY DOTSON
@WasleyDop23
After a two-game midweek sweep of the New Mexico Lobos, Kansas baseball will welcome the ninth-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys for a three-game set this weekend.
ALL DOVER/KANSAN
No.7 senior Connor McKay hits a home run against New Mexico on Tuesday.The Jayhawks swept New Mexico this week and hope to do the same in this weekend's three-game set against Oklahoma State.
The Jayhawks completed their sweep of the Lobos on Wednesday afternoon. They won 10-5. Sophomore Sean Rackowski got his first win of the season, pitching five innings while surrendering six hits, allowing one earned run, and striking out three batters.
The Cowboys will come into Lawrence hot. They are winners of their last four, and are fresh off a 24-2 drubbing they gave to the Oklahoma Sooners on April 7.
The Jayhawks hope to continue to ride the hot bat of freshman Matt McLaughlin. McLaughlin had another strong performance Wednesday, going 3-of-4 with three RBIs. He is now on a 10-game hitting streak.
the weekend rotation for the Jayhawks in the upcoming series includes junior Ben Krauth on Friday, freshman Blake Weiman on Saturday and senior Drew Morovick on Sunday. This has been the weekend rotation during conference play so far this season, so expect these three to be the projected starters. Krauth has had the most success of the three starters this season, as he owns a 5-2 record with a 4.97 ERA, along with 42 strikeouts in 50 and two-thirds innings pitched.
"I felt good." McLaughlin said after Wednesday's win. "I got three hits and it felt good to get back on track."
Coach Ritch Price knows pitching is still an area that needs improvement. It will be crucial against the Cowboys, who as a team are hitting .286 with 59 doubles and 23 home runs.
"We're last in pitching, but I do feel like we are starting to get better starts from our guys and you know, it's week-by-week. It's not just going to happen overnight," Price said.
Oklahoma State's average is ranked second in the Big 12 to Kansas. Outfielder Connor Costello is a player to watch for Oklahoma State. He leads the team in home runs with five, as well as RBIs at 29.
Starters Weiman and Morovick will need to provide strong starts over the weekend in order to compete with a Cowboys offense that has led their team to a top-10 NCAA ranking. Morovick on the season is 2-3 with a 5.45 ERA in seven starts, and Weiman has yet to win a game in four starts. He owns an 8.39 ERA in 34 and one-third innings pitched.
The first game starts at 6 p.m. April 10 at Hoglund Ballpark and there will be day game starts at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Edited by Mackenzie Clark
ALL DOVER/KANSAN
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