#24 Kansas Travels to Wichita to Face #21 Shockers
April 4, 2006
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
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Matchup: #24 Kansas (20-11, 4-5 Big 12) at #21 Wichita State (22-9, 2-4 MVC)
Dates/Times: Wednesday, April 5, 7 p.m.
Location: Wichita, Kan.
Stadium: Eck Stadium
Capacity: 7,851
Internet: GameTracker at KUathletics.com
Radio: KLWN (1320 AM) and online at KUathletics.com
Series: WSU leads 38-21
KU Coach: Ritch Price (12th season, 4th at Kansas)
Record: 339-326-2, 122-98-1 at KU
WSU Coach: Gene Stephenson (29th season at Wichita State and overall)
Record: 1,528-498-3 overall and at WSU
Streaks: Kansas has won 2 games in a row
Wichita State won its last game
Probable Pitchers:
Brendan McNamara, RHP, Jr.
Kris Johnson, LHP, So.
Leading Off
The University of Kansas (20-11, 4-5 Big 12) will travel to Wichita to face the Shockers in a mid-week game on Wednesday, April 5. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Eck Stadium. The game will be a rematch of KU’s 8-2 victory over the Shockers last Wednesday. KU is coming off a successful week that saw the Jayhawks win three of four games, including taking two of three games against Border Showdown rival Missouri over the weekend.
Quick Hits
-Last Wednesday’s mid-week tilt against Wichita State drew the largest crowd in Hoglund Ballpark history. An announced crowd of 2,324 saw KU defeat the Shockers, 8-2. Overall 7,337 fans watched KU’s four home games last week, an average of 1,834 per game.
-Kansas is ranked 24th in this week’s Baseball America poll.
-KU is ranked 26th in the RPI compiled at boydsworld.com. The Big 12 has the 3rd best league RPI.
-Kansas is 5-4 against the Shockers under Ritch Price. KU is 2-2 at Eck Stadium during that time.
-Kansas is in the midst of playing 18 of 21 games in the state of Kansas. The Jayhawks opened the season playing 23 of their first 27 games on the road, including their first 14 of the year.
-Gus Milner is batting .432 with runners in scoring position he also has a team-leading 12 RBI with two outs.
-Jared Schweitzer is batting .400 (12-for-30) against LHP this season.
-Left-handed batters are hitting .208 (5-for-24) against freshman Andy Marks.
-Opponents are hitting .171 (12-for-70) with runners on base against senior Don Czyz.
-John Allman is batting .526 (10-for-19) during his current five-game hitting streak and at a .422 (19-for-45) clip since March 11.
-Don Czyz leads the Big 12 in saves (10), appearances (19) and ERA (1.64).
-Gus Milner’s 35 RBI rank third in the Big 12 trailing only teammates Matt Smith (37) and Roger Kieschnick (40) from Texas Tech.
-Erik Morrison’s 8 home runs are good for second in the Big 12.
-Kansas leads the Big 12 in total home runs with 33.
-Freshman Preston Land has hit safely in eight consecutive games and is batting .385 (10-for-26) during his streak.
-15 of the Jayhawks 20 wins have been come-from-behind victories.
-KU is 14-0 this year when leading after seven innings and 9-0 when holding its opponents to 2 or less runs.
A Look at Wichita State
The Shockers enter Wednesday’s mid-week game with a 22-9 record and losers of six of their last eight games. WSU has lost the first two games of its series against Southern Illinois and Creighton to open its Missouri Valley Conference season. The Shockers are 11-3 this year at Eck Stadium.
As a team, WSU is hitting .301 while its pitchers carry a 2.86 ERA. Super sophomore Damon Sublett leads WSU at the plate and on the mound. Sublett is hititng .402 with five homers while also saving five games without giving up an earned run in 9.1 innings this year.
The `Don’ of Records
With his next appearance, senior Don Czyz will tie the Big 12 record for career appearances. The record of 111 appearances is held by former Baylor Bear Zane Smith (2000-04). Czyz is also one save away from tying Jimmy Walker’s school record (11) for most saves in a single season.
Czyz Among the Best
As of Tuesday, senior closer Don Czyz is second in the nation in saves. Here is a look at the top 5.
Rk. School Name Saves1. Cal State Fullerton Vinnie Pestano 112. Kansas Don Czyz 103. Wake Forest Ben Hunter 93. UC Irvine Blair Erickson 95. Seven players with 8
Crowd Lovin’ It
Great baseball and nice weather brought a record number of fans to Hoglund Ballpark during KU’s four game home stand from March 29-April 2. The `Hog’ drew the first, fourth and seventh largest crowds in its history. The four games (three Jayhawks victories) drew an average of 1,834 fans.
No. Att. Opponent Date Result1. 2,324 #13 Wichita State 3/29/06 W, 8-22. 2,106 #6 Texas 5/2/03 W, 10-13. 1,988 Kansas State 5/1/99 L, 10-34. 1,971 #29 Missouri 4/1/06 W, 3-25. 1,848 #4 Wichita State 4/9/96 L, 9-56. 1,834 Wichita State 4/13/94 W, 6-37. 1,821 #29 Missouri 3/31/06 L, 3-0
Mark Your Calenders
With the cancelation of KU’s March 22 game against Creighton in Omaha, Neb., the Jayhawks have announced an additional game. KU will host Tabor College at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19. Their will be no charge to attend teh KU-Tabor game.
