4B
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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2008
BASEBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Junior pitcher Nick Czyz turns quickly to first attempting to pick off a Texas Tech base runner. Czyz faced 26 Red Raiders Friday afternoon, striking out seven batters in Kansas' 9-5 victory.
I'm finally feeling comfortable. If I can just continue to step up my performance, then hopefully I can be the guy who can start doing something special."
The first step in Czyz' development this season was to trust his
ment this seas,
fastballenough
to use it inside
against hitters.
Since making
that adjustment
to his approach
on the mound,
the results have
been apparent.
On March 9, he struck out 11 batters against North Dakota State in
"It sets up your whole outlook of the game and the way you pitch different hitters because it sets up all of your off-speed pitches."
However, his strikeout numbers hid a second step that he had yet to take in his development until
"It's a huge confidence thing, knowing that you can throw your fastball inside and guys aren't getting good swings on it."
six innings. For the season, he has 50 strikeouts in 50-1/3 innings and six starts with at least five strikeouts.
"It's a huge confidence thing, knowing that you can throw your fastball inside and guys aren't getting good swings on it," Czyz said.
NICK CZYZ Pitcher
recently. In his first seven starts of the season, Czyz only had one start of at least six innings because he often worked counts to get strikeouts, rather than pitch to contact and get
quick outs.
His April 4 start against Baylor lasted just four and one-third innings. While he'd struck out six and allowed just one run, he'd also thrown 98 pitches. Since then, though, Czyz has been noticeably more economical with his pitches.
reaching the seventh inning in his last three starts.
Now, the last step for Czyz is to make his stat line more pleasing to the eye.
In 10 starts this year, Czyz has a 2-5 record, a 5.72 ERA, a 1.72:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 1.65 WHIP. However, these numbers are exaggerated by three poor starts for Czyz. In his first two starts of the season, against Hawaii-Hilo and a ranked Vanderbilt club, and one against Northwestern, Czyz allowed 17 earned runs on 21 hits and seven walks in 10 and two-thirds innings.
But with at least three starts left in the season. Czyz is poised to take his final step to have his statistics reflect the strides he's taken.
"It just sucks for me because I had a rough start, had a couple really bad outings where it blew up my statistics." Czyz said, "but I'm looking to get that down."
KANSANCLASSIFIEDS
Edited by Madeline Hyden
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