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/ SPORTS THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN KANSAN.COM
KANSAS VS. MISSOURI 7 p.m. Friday Hoglund Ballpark, Lawrence
BASEBALL GAMEDAY
KANSAS OPENING PITCH
ATA GLANCE
Kansas (26-19-1, 7-10-1) has lost two straight games and four of its last five heading into a pivotal series against Missouri. Earlier this season, the Jayhawks shut out the Tigers 1-0 at Kauffman Stadium behind dominant innings from freshman pitcher Thomas Taylor.
FRIDAY: Junior T.J. Walz
PROJECTED STARTERS
Walz has been sharp in two straight starts, most notably last weekend in Stillwater, where he nearly no-hit Oklahoma State. He finished with a season-high 11 strikeouts in eight innings.
SATURDAY: Senior Cameron Selik
Silik also had a strong performance in Stillwater, allowing only two runs in seven innings. But it went for naught — the Jayhawks squandered a three-run lead in the ninth
SUNDAY: Freshman Tanner Poppe
Like Selik, Poppe had a solid start wasted when Kansas failed to hold a late lead. The freshman still rebounded from two straight shaky outings with five and 2/3 innings of two-hit ball.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Junior third baseman Tony Thompson
Thompson seems to have regained his stroke at the plate, recording a hit in 11 of Kansas' last 12 games with two home runs and 13 RBIs. The Preseason All America selection needs to keep providing power to the Jayhawks lineup.
Thompson
QUESTION MARK
How will the Jayhawks respond to a string of "must-win" games?
With a schedule littered with "would-be" wins, Kansas finds itself with no more room to let victories slip away. The Jayhawks 7-10-1 conference record is still good enough to place them right in the middle of the Big 12, but with only nine games remaining they need at least five victories for a good shot at the postseason.
BY THE NUMBERS
15: combined victories from Poppe, Selik and Walz
5: regular starters batting more than .300 in Big 12 play
12-4-1: record at Hoglund Ballpark this season
SERIES OUTLOOK
Any chance of Kansas making the postseason rests in a series victory this weekend. If the Jayhawks can take two of three, they're right back in the hunt for a regional berth. If not, it's going to be a long off-season for Kansas.
Ben Ward
The Tigers have struggled in conference most of the 2010 season. Right now, they sit seventh in the Big 12 standings. Missouri beat Missouri State 11-6 in its last game. In last season's series with Kansas, the Tigers took two of three games in Columbia.
MISSOURI OPENING PITCH
FRIDAY: Junior Nick Tepesch
With a 4-4 record, Tepesch will take the ball in Game One. In his last start, Tepesch pitched six and 1/3 innings in a loss to Texas Tech. This season, he leads the team in innings pitched and strikeouts.
AT A GLANCE
SATURDAY: Junior Jeff Scardino
PROJECTED STARTERS
Just Texas Tech, Scardino earned a no decision after getting rocked early in the game. He lasted only four and 2/3 innings. Scardino has given up 31 runs in 14 appearances.
Senne
SUNDAY: Junior Phil McCormick
In two innings of work against Texas Tech, McCormick gave up no hits and struck out two in a relief appearance. This season McCormick has a record of 5-1 with 23 innings pitched. He also has 12 strikeouts and seven walks.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Senior first baseman Aaron Senne
Without Senne, the Tigers would not be worth talking about this season. Senne is at the top of most offensive categories in the conference and leads the team with 12 home runs. In the last game against the Jayhawks, Senne was 0-4 with two strikeouts.
QUESTION MARK
Can the Tigers score enough runs to win the series?
In the last game against Kansas in Kauffman Stadium, the Tigers scored zero runs and missed opportunities on the field. To win this series, they will have to get production from the entire lineup. The Tigers are ranked seventh in batting in the conference; the Jayhawks sit sixth.
BY THE NUMBERS
364: Strikeouts by Missouri batters (first in the conference)
64: Errors by Missouri defense
5: Runners left on base in loss to Kansas April 21
Andrew Hammond
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