SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday. April 8.1994
11
Baseball team ready for weekend battle
Jayhawks would lead Big Eight if triumphant
By Andrew Gilman Kansan sportswriter
Kansas sophomore pitcher Jamie Splitteroff spent yesterday's practice resting his arm. Senior pitcher Chris Corn did a lot of the same.
The two-right-handers will lead the No. 16 Kansas baseball team into Stillwater, Okla. for a three-game series beginning at 7 on tonight against the No.
10 Cowboys.
Corn will start tonight and Splittorff will start tomorrow in the first two of the three games that will pit the two top teams in the Big Eight Conference.
The Cowboys are 9-2, one-half game ahead of the Jayhawks, who are 9-3.
"These games won't determine the championship," Corn said. "All we want to do is show we can play."
Corn, who is 4-0 with a 3.99 ERA,
was scheduled to start in Columbia,
Mo. against the Tigers last Tuesday,
but the two games against Missouri
were canceled.
ly his worst outing of the year. But he has had two compete games in the conference, and said that his performance against the Cyclones was not typical of what he can do.
In his last outing, Corm gave up eight runs and eight hits in five innings against Iowa State, in what was clear-
"I felt pretty good all year except the one inning against Iowa State," he said. "I've beaten the OSUs and the OUs. We have plenty of confidence."
Kansas coach Dave Bingham also has confidence in the Jayhawk pitching.
"Obviously the starting pitching has given us a chance to win," he said. "We're going to have our good days and our bad days, but I expect some real competition."
Kansas has a 6-2 road record but has not played at what Bingham called a
"truly hostile environment." Oklahoma State should provide that opportunity.
Splittorf, who has an 8-0 record and a 2.70 ERA, has suffered from a tightness in his throwing arm, but Bingham said it was nothing too serious.
"They have a great atmosphere for baseball," Bingham said. "This will be a series which allows for some national recognition, but were not going to try and do anything different just because it's Oklahoma State."
"He was not going to pitch against Missouri even though it was his turn," Bingham said. "We wanted to give him some rest. I really don't think it's anything serious."
Splittorff said he was looking for
ward to facing the conference's top team.
The Cowboys have a potent lineup, highlighted by leadoff hitter, Roberto Lopez.
"Basically, I just want to stay focused," he said. "I'm not going to change anything, just go right after them and stay aggressive."
Lopez, a junior second baseman, is batting, 42 with 33 RBIs and four home runs. Another player that may pose problems for Kansas is senior outfielder Thad Chaddrick. Chaddrick has 28 RBIs to compliment his .366 batting average. But Bingham said that the whole team worried him.
"Overall, it's their whole club that's good," he said. "They are very experienced and have the ability to do more of what they want this year because of the experience. Their offensive canabilities are impressive."
Kansas hopes to take over first place in the conference by the end of the weekend.
"Our goal is to win the conference," Bingham said. "To go down there and win would definitely help us reach that goal."
Jayhawk softball to take flight
Kansas to play three doubleheaders against Pittsburg St., Oklahoma
By Matt Irwin Special to the Kansan
The Kansas softball team will begin playing what Coach Kalum Haack called the four most important games of its season tomorrow and Sunday.
Kansas plays Pittsburg State today at 2 p.m. but faces nationally ranked Oklahoma in doubleheaders tomorrow at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. at Jayhawk field. Ranked fifth in their region, the Jayhawks must move up to fourth to make the NCAA field. Oklahoma is ranked third.
"It's by far the biggest weekend," Haack said. "Each game is more important. The Big Eight season is extremely important. Oklahoma is playing real well right now. In order to move up we need to win three out of four."
"Their confidence is really high right now," Haack said. "We're going to have to shut their hitting down."
The Jayhawks swept the Sooners in four games last season. The Jayhawks, who are 21-11 and 4-0 in conference games, are playing an Oklahoma team that is ranked tenth in the nation.
Haack said that Oklahoma had two players hitting over .400 and only two hitting below .300. The Jayhawks will counter with All-American candidate, senior pitcher Stephani Williams, who was named Big Eight Pitcher-of-the-Week Wednesday. She improved her record to 18-6 with a 1.11 ERA last week by winning four games against Nebraska. Against Nebraska Williams went 24 innings with 19 strikeouts and only two walks.
"That's our equalizer," Haack said. "I expect them to be real close ball games. They didn't hit her too hard in the first game."
The Jayhawks, who are hoping to avenge an earlier loss to the Sooners in the Texas Arlington Invitational, believe their improved hitting could help them win this time.
"I think our hitting is going to be the key," Haack said. "It's improved a lot. We really pounded the ball against Nebraska."
Senior Kim Newbern, who plays third base, said that the hitting had not reached its full potential.
"It can always improve." Newbern said. "We're headed in the right direction."
Haack said that during the first game against the Sooners, injuries were also a factor.
"We had people out of position," he said. He also said that the Jayhawks had returned every injured starter except freshman catcher Jacue Wenzer.
"I think we're starting to jell right now," Haack said. "The team's confidence is coming along."
Newbern also said the Jayhawks were beginning to peak at the right time.
"We're playing really well." Newbern said. "I feel like we're really starting to take off. Our defense is incredible right now."
Despite the loss early in the season, Haack said the Jayhawks would be motivated to play well against Oklahoma.
"They're playing well and they're a good team," Haack said. "Their confidence is really high right now. I think we'll be pumped."
Newbern said that the Sooners were confident that they would take three out of four this weekend.
"It makes you want to play a little bit harder," she said. "All I've heard is that they're playing really good ball right now. This is a big, big weekend."
To start the weekend, the Jayhawks will begin a doubleheader today against Pittsburg State. Although the Jayhawks have a big weekend series against Oklahoma, they cannot overlook PittsburgState because the Gorillas are one of the top Division II teams, Newbern said.
"It'll get us back into it," Newborn said. "We can really take anybody lightly."
William Alix / KANSAN
Sophomore outfieldier Stacy Rakestraw works out during batting practice. Kansas will face Pittsburgh State at 2 p.m., today at Jayhawk Field.
TODAY
Softball
Pittsburg State at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
at Jayhawk Field.
Baseball Oklahoma State at Oklahoma State.
SATURDAY
Oklahoma at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Jayhawk Field.
Men's tennis
lowa State at 10 a.m.
at Allen Field House
tennis courts
Women's tennis
Women's tennis
lowa State at 2 p.m.
at Allen Field House
tennis courts.
Baseball
Club lacrosse Missouri at 12 p.m. at Shenk Complex, 23rd and Iowa streets.
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma State.
SUNDAY Softball
Men's tennis
Oklahma at 11 a.m.
and 1 p.m. at
Jayhawk Field.
Nebraska at 10 a.m.
at Allen Field House
tennis courts.
Women's tennis
Nebraska at 2 p.m.
at Allen Field House
tennis courts.
Club lacrosse Kansas State at 1 p.m. at Shenk Complex, 23rd and Iowa streets.
Baseball Oklahoma State at Oklahoma State.
Micah Laaker/KANSAN
Tennis team at home on the court — at last
Men's, women's teams to take on Iowa State, Nebraska this weekend
By Matt Siegel
cansan sportswriter
The No. 28 Kansas men's tennis team makes a rare some appearance this weekend.
"The Jayhawks play their fifth and final home match this season when they face Iowa State tomorrow and Nebraska Sunday. Kansas, 16-5, hasn't played at home since March 6 against Drake. "It's too bad that we haven't played at home more often this year so that more people could see these guys play," Kansas coach Michael Center said. "They have done a tremendous job. They have done everything I've asked them to do. Hopefully we will get a lot of people out there to see them play this weekend."
Match time is set for 10 a.m. at the courts behind Allen Field House. But that could change if the weather doesn't cooperate. In that case, the Jayawaks will move to the indoor courts at the Alvamar racquet club and play will begin at 11 a.m.
Center said in order to get more home matches in the future, Kansas needed to consider two options to attract more teams.
"I think part of the problem is that we don't have our own facility." Center said. "I don't have control over an indoor facility. So it is difficult between the men and the women to get a lot of weekends. The second problem is that it is sometimes difficult to bring people in to Lawrence, Kansas. I'm trying to establish more home and aways, and I also think in the future we need to guarantee people some money."
Center said that he would make an effort next year to have more home matches because he felt it was
unfair to his players that they had to travel so much. One player who doesn't mind all the traveling is junior Martin Eriksson.
But for right now, the Jayhawks are concentrating on this season. Center said both matches this weekend would be difficult, but the Jayhawks would get an added bonus with the return of sophomore J.P. Vissseo and freshman Tim Radogna.
"It's certainly hurts our grades," Eriksson said. "But I enjoy being on the road and going to different parts of the country. We played against some of the top teams in the country. The schedule this year has been great. I hope it doesn't change too much next year."
Vissepo has been recovering from mononucleosis, and Rodogna has tendinitis in his wrist. Eriksson said that with everybody healthy, he liked the Jayhawks' chances of winning the Big Eight Conference title.
"I expect us to win the Big Eight," Eriksson said.
"Anything less would be an extreme disappointment. It would take something extraordinary to happen for us to not win the title.
"At one point or another J.P. and Tim will see some action this weekend," Center said.
Eriksson, who is from Saro, Sweden, is especially looking forward to playing against Iowa State. He said that he thinks he will be matched up with Johan Nilsson, a childhood friend and rival from Sweden.
Of the two teams, Center said he was most concerned about the Cyclones. The Jayhawks are playing the remainder of their season for a seed at the Big Eight Championships, which is April 22-24. The winner of that conference tournament receives a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
"It's kind of funny," Ericksson said. "We both come to the states and end up playing against each other. I know it will be a difficult match."
"I look for us to have a good performance this weekend," Center said. "These guys have had a great year so far and hopefully we can keep on improving."
"Iowa State has had decent success. Nebraska has struggled a little bit more. But we need to come prepared to play."
Women's tennis readv for weekend
There is not much room for improvement for the No. 5 Kansas women's tennis team. The Jayhawks also play Iowa State and Nebraska tomorrow and Sunday at 2 p.m. Senior Mindy Weiner said the Jayhawks, 17-2, are using the rest of the conference season to gear up for the NCAA Tournament.
"We are hoping to get a good seed in the tournament," Weiner said. "It's difficult to enter the tournament against a national power because everybody is nervous and it's the big time. Hopefully, we can win our first match and that will get us over the hump."
The tournament consists of 20 teams. Weiner said the team was hoping for a seed that would allow them to play a team in the upper teens, so Kansas could "get on a roll."
Kansas has several players on a roll, including Weiner. She has won eight consecutive matches. Junior Nora Koves, who has had 14 consecutive victories, was named the conference "netter-of-the-week." She is ranked No. 10 nationally in singles and No. 2 in doubles with teammate Rebecca Jensen. Weiner, who said she had been playing her best tennis since she came to Kansas, said she was relishing the Jayhawks' success.
"It's the best season in Kansas tennis history," Weiner said. "It might not be like this for a long time. I'm just happy to be a part of it."
Kansas coach Chuck Merzbacher said that he expected a good performance from his team this weekend. He said Iowa State has had a difficult time with injuries and Kansas should win both matches.
"On paper we should dominate. We just have to go out there and do it."
"It's time for the horses to run again," said Mierzbacher, referring to a group of players he calls his "six studs."
Valerie Bontrager / KANBAN
Sophomore Michael Iroff works on his forehand. The Jayhawks have been preparing this week at Alvamar Racquet Club. The team 's and women's teams play Iowa State tomorrow at the Allen Field House courts.