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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2013
PAGE 9B
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JAYHAWKS TRAVEL TO OKLAHOMA
The Kansas baseball team will take on the Sooners
FIELDING
Kansas has collectively committed 20 errors on the season, 11 fewer than their opponents combined so far this season. Kansas pitchers have had a lot of success this season because of the fielding and limited errors committed in 2013. Outfielder Connor McKay and outfielder Joe Moroney are not projected to start, but are expected to receive significant playing time this weekend in Norman, Okla.
Sophomore infielder Justin Protacio has been busy playing a couple of different positions. He's also been busy at the busy at the batter's box. Protacio had the best offensive series as a Jayhawk against BYU, going 6-for-13 for a double and two runs batted in. Protacio is adding on to some of the Jayhawks' offensive power, which is a necessity against a top-25 team in Oklahoma.
FIELDING
Junior starting pitcher Frank Duncan and sophomore starting pitcher Wes Benjamin combine for an earned run average of 4.21 on the year, which has helped Kansas earn its 14 wins so far. Coming out of the bullpen, junior Jordan Piche' and sophomore Robert Kahana have been a valuable asset for the Jayhawks. The bullpen has allowed only three runs in the last 11 games. If the series is tied going into Saturday, Kansas has the advantage with Thomas Taylor being on the mound for the series finale.
HITTING
Oklahoma's fielding has done pretty well for most of this season, despite nearly a dozen freshmen receiving a lot of playing time this year. Despite being young, the Sooners have been able to play good defense and feed off from their pitchers. Third baseman Garrett Carey and shortstop Jack Mayfield hold a lot of responsibility as seniors to keep the Sooners' infield focused.
Oklahoma's batting is some of the toughest Kansas has to face this year. Junior Matt Oberste leads the Big 12 in hits with 50, runs batted in with 34 and home runs with seven. Oberste has a strong supporting cast behind him with Carey and Mayfield tied second on the team in home runs with three this year. The Sooners collectively have 16 home runs, which ranks them second in the conference.
Kansas faces a huge test this weekend when going up against juniors Jonathan Gray and Dillon Overton. Gray and Overton each have surrendered one loss this year and combine for 90 strikeouts so far this year. The Sooners will heavily rely on their starting pitchers to help them get through another Big 12 conference series. Oklahoma has yet to announce who its starting pitcher will be Saturday.
— Farzin Vousoughian