Jayhawks Battle Cowboys in First Home Conference Series

LAWRENCE, Kan. – On the heels of a two-game sweep, the Kansas baseball team turns its attention to the Cowboys of Oklahoma State, for a weekend series at Hoglund Ballpark, April 10-12.
 
The Jayhawks (13-20, 1-5 Big 12) will have their hands full, as the Cowboys (23-9, 7-2 Big 12) top the conference rankings and come in ranked in numerous national polls, including No. 15 in the Baseball America poll.
 
Oklahoma State got the better of Kansas when the two matched up in Stillwater, Oklahoma last season, earning the sweep and holding KU to just six runs on the weekend. The Crimson and Blue have other plans this time around, however. Averaging just over eight runs a game in their last six, the Jayhawks’ bats are hotter than ever.
 
Leading the way during that timespan are two underclassmen, catcher Michael Tinsley and reigning Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, freshman Matt McLaughlin. The two are hitting a combined 24-for 55 in the six-game span for a .436 average, Tinsley is 13-for-28 (.464 average) with eight RBIs and McLaughlin is batting .407 (11-for-27) with eight RBIs to match.
 
“We have been swinging the bats really well lately,” head coach Ritch Price said. “If we can keep swinging them the way we have been, it will take some of the pressure off our pitchers.”
 
Ben Krauth, coming off arguably his best start of the season last weekend at Oklahoma, will look to build on his already budding Jayhawk career with the start on Friday night. In his last six starts, Krauth has earned five wins and one no-decision. In Norman, the lefty threw a career-high seven and two-thirds innings and left the game with a 5-2 lead. The bullpen was unable to hang on to the lead and Krauth got the no-decision.
 
Blake Weiman is also making strides on the mound and hopes to continue the trend with a start on Sunday. The freshman threw a career-high six and one-third innings and struck out four batters last Saturday, but struggled to keep the hot bats of the Sooners at bay, giving up five runs.
 
“We’re making progress on the mound every game,” Price said. “As our guys get more innings and we get deeper into the season, they get more comfortable and start trusting their stuff more.”
 
Oklahoma State comes to Lawrence riding a streak of 10-straight conference series victories, including all three this season. OSU ranks second in the conference with a 2.42 ERA with eight pitchers under a 3.00 ERA. Offensively, the Cowboys enter the weekend averaging 7.1 runs per game, the best in the conference and rank second with a .286 team batting average.
 
Catcher Gage Green leads the squad with a .336 average (43-for-128) including two doubles, three triples, three home runs, 15 RBIs and 24 runs scored. Outfielder Conor Costello has driven in 29 runs for OSU and leads the team with five bombs. Green ranks first in the conference with 15 stolen bases and has only been thrown out twice.
 
On the hill, Oklahoma State will send righties Jon Perrin and Remey Reed out Friday and Saturday, and turn to its ace, lefty Michael Freeman on Sunday. Perrin holds a 2-3 record in 38 innings pitched with 36 strikeouts while Reed has started just four games and is a perfect 2-0 with a 0.74 ERA. Freeman has tossed 55 and two-thirds innings and is 6-0 on the season with 50 strikeouts and a 1.46 ERA that ranks fourth in the conference.
 
All three games against the Cowboys can be watched live on ESPN3 through WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the Watch ESPN app, through ESPN on Xbox Live to Gold Members and on Apple TV. In addition, Sunday’s contest can also be seen live throughout the state of Kansas on the Jayhawk Television Network. Steven Davis and former Kansas baseball player Scott Heitshusen will be calling the action for all three games. Visit KUAthletics.com/TV for more information on affiliates.
 
Alongside the television broadcast, the three games can be heard on the Jayhawk Radio Network through KUAthletics.com/Radio or on the official Kansas Jayhawks mobile app with Shane Jackson and recent KU baseball alum Ka’iana Eldredge calling the action.
 
The Jayhawks turn around and play Missouri State on Tuesday, April 14 at Hoglund Ballpark once the series with Oklahoma State concludes. Kansas will be looking for revenge after the Bears won the first meeting between the two this season, 15-9.
 
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