Big 12 play continues at No. 11 Texas Tech
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas baseball team heads back out on the road to continue Big 12 play at No. 11 Texas Tech Friday, April 5 – Sunday, April 7 at Rip Griffin Park.
Kansas (15-13, 1-5 Big 12) lost three of its last five contests including two over the weekend in its home opener against then-No. 25 Baylor. The Red Raiders (19-18, 3-3 Big 12) enter the series having won seven of their last 10, including a series win at Kansas State (March 30-31).
All three games can be seen live on TexasTech.TV for a fee. In addition, fans can tune to a radio broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network via KUAthletics.com/Radio with Brian Hanni and Nick Springer calling the action.
QUICK HITS/QUOTABLES
- Kansas’ all-time record: 1,927-1,856-18
- Head coach Ritch Price’s record in Division I: 724-671-4
- Price’s record at Kansas: 507-473-3
- All-time record in April: 606-695-6
- Head coach Ritch Price on Texas Tech:
“Texas Tech is a College World Series team. They have had a great run as of late, and it is going to take our best effort to win a series.”
- Price on Kansas’ starting pitching: “Our starting pitching has to be as good as Texas Tech’s starting pitching. Anytime you play somebody who is a national power, that is where it starts. You have to stay in the game until you get a clutch hit and can take the lead.”
- Price on the KU bullpen:
“We have struggled out of the bullpen as of late, there is no doubt about that. It is a concern for us right now. Once some of those guys get over being a little bit sore and feel better this weekend, we can take a positive step forward.”
- Price on the Jayhawk offense: “Our guys work hard and they grind every day and they know they’re struggling and not producing, and sometimes that’s half the problem – the harder you try, the worse it gets. We’ll just try to stay positive and keep working.”
Catcher Power
Junior catcher Jaxx Groshans hit his 11th bomb of the season against Wichita State (April 2). Those 11 dingers ranks Groshans first in the Big 12 Conference and t-13th in the NCAA. In addition, Groshans ranks second among catchers nationally in home runs trailing only Kyle McCann of Georgia Tech (12).
Midweek Master
Sophomore starting pitcher Steve Washilewski has been fanning batters in his midweek starts all season. In his 27 innings pitched, he has punched out 30 batters while walking only eight, including a career-best eight K’s at Missouri State (March 27)
Pitching Deep
Starting pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn averages 5.9 innings pitched and 1.4 runs allowed per start over seven outings.
Ray of Sunshine
Sophomore right fielder Blaine Ray hit his first home run Saturday against Baylor (March 30) en route to turning in a career day. Ray finished with a personal-best two hits and two RBIs to go along with the first four-bagger of his career – he was responsible for all of KU’s offense in the loss.
D1baseball week 6 power ranking: catcher
Junior Jaxx Groshans ranks sixth out of 30 on D1Baseball.com’s Week 6 Power Ranking for catchers and is the No. 2 backstop in the Big 12 Conference. Groshans ranks second in the NCAA among catchers in home runs (10) and RBIs (32).
Groshans Career High RBI
Junior catcher Jaxx Groshans knocked in a career high six RBI’s against Missouri State (March 27) roping a three-run home run and a three-run double.
Washilewski tosses eight K’s in a win
Sophomore starting pitcher Steve Washilewski tossed five and 1/3 innings against Missouri State (March 27), striking out a career-high eight batters. The six-foot southpaw is 2-0 on the 2019 season with a 2.86 ERA.
Jayhawk Travelers
The Kansas baseball team spent 31 of the first 42 days of the season on the road after weather forced two home series to be moved to Texas. The season opened on Feb. 15 and the Jayhawks played their first home game Saturday, March 30 against Baylor. In March alone, Kansas spent 22 of 27 days away from Lawrence.
Longest Road Span Since 1978
The home opener against Baylor Saturday, March 30 (DH) is the latest the Jayhawks have opened up Hoglund Ballpark since the 1978 season when they played Benedictine College on March 29th.
Racking Up the Miles
That long road span forced the Jayhawks to travel a total of 12,680 miles round trip the first six weeks of the season. To put that into perspective, the United States is 2,680 miles wide while Earth is 24,901 miles around at the Equator. Kansas could have traveled coast-to-coast almost five times (4.73) or about halfway around the world.
Seasoned Veteran
Kansas head coach Ritch Price is the most tenured skipper in the Big 12 Conference as he has coached in 410 league games – 260 more than any other current coach.
1. 410 – Ritch Price, Kansas (17th season)
2. 150 – Tim Tadlock, Texas Tech (Seventh season)
3. 148 – Jim Schlossnagle, TCU (Seventh Season)
4. 146 – Randy Maze, West Virginia (Seventh Season)
5. 145 – Josh Holliday, Oklahoma State (Seventh Season)
Bring Out the Brooms
Kansas earned its first three-game series sweep over an opponent when the squad took three-straight from Northern Illinois (March 1-2) in Grand Prairie and Melissa, Texas. It was the team’s first sweep since March 9-11, 2018, against St. John’s.
The Price is Right
With the sweep over Northern Illinois (March 1-2), head coach Ritch Price reached the 500-win mark as the Jayhawks’ skipper. Price is already the all-time winningest coach in program history with 69 more victories than legendary head coach Floyd Temple (438).
Player of the Week
After a three-home run performance opening weekend, junior catcher Jaxx Groshans was named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week (Feb. 18). Groshans reached base seven times in 13 plate appearances, including four hits and three walks during the first three games of the Jayhawks’ season-opening series at USC Upstate. Groshans finished with a league-best three homers and six RBIs in those three contests, while batting .400 (4-for-10). In addition, Groshans scored the second-most runs in the conference on the weekend at four. In the Monday finale, Groshans batted 1-for-1 with a single and a RBI while drawing a career-high three walks. He is the first Kansas Big 12 Player of the Week since 2013 when Michael Suiter earned the same distinction (March 11).
Preseason All-American
Junior righty Ryan Zeferjahn became the first Kansas baseball player to earn a Preseason All-America Team recognition from Baseball America when the publication announced he landed on its third team. Zeferjahn was one of 42 players from around the country representing 35 different schools to be honored.
Preseason All-Big 12
Junior right-handed pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn earned his second preseason recognition when the league’s coaches voted him to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team. The team consists of 18 players from across the conference with Zeferjahn earning one of the six pitching spots.
Up Next
The Jayhawks host Missouri State for a midweek matchup Tuesday, April 9 before continuing conference play with Oklahoma State (April 12-14).
