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K-State baseball team is beating the best
By HOWARD RICHMANThe Kansas City Star
They were scouring the baseball record books Wednesday in Kansas State’s sports information office, trying to determine the Wildcats’ place in history.
K-State recorded its eighth triumph this season against a ranked opponent on Tuesday night by beating No. 3 Arizona State 7-6. That is believed to be a school record for victories against ranked teams in a single season (the Wildcats have beaten seven ranked teams, including Oklahoma State twice).
The key now for the Wildcats is to consistently beat the unranked teams — otherwise, the wins against ranked foes won’t mean a whole lot.
“We’re down, but we’re definitely not out,” K-State closer Daniel Edwards said. “Every game, we’re going to act like everything is on the line because it is.”
For all the success in 2008 against ranked opponents, it has not guaranteed K-State a spot in the postseason. The Wildcats have never advanced to the NCAA regionals, and there was a sentiment in their camp months ago that this would be the year.
Unless K-State wins the Big 12 tournament, the regional dream is a real long shot. Currently, the Wildcats hold the precious eighth and final spot in the Big 12 standings. How precious? Only eight teams make it to the conference tournament May 21-25 in Oklahoma City, and K-State is safe for now. But the Wildcats are by no means a lock.
K-State travels to Oklahoma for a three-game series starting Friday. The Wildcats, 23-25 overall, are 7-14 in the Big 12. Oklahoma, 29-20-1, is right behind at 6-14-1. There is minimal margin for error for K-State, which owns just a one-game lead over 10th-place Texas Tech (21-25, 6-15).
K-State may bank on its upset of the Sun Devils (buoyed by two home runs from Justin Bloxom) to provide a boost that will last during this final stretch run. That includes a regular-season finale of a three-game series next weekend against Kansas (two of those are home games for the Wildcats).
While they were searching the record books for most wins against ranked teams in a season, the hunt included the last time K-State beat such a highly ranked non-conference opponent. It appears to be 2001, when the Wildcats edged No. 3 LSU 9-8 in Baton Rouge, La.
That game is unforgettable for former K-State coach Mike Clark.
“The series was supposed to start on a Friday, and Britney Spears was going to sing the national anthem,” Clark said. “The game got rained out, and she couldn’t come back the next day. Before the game Saturday, they gave LSU its rings for winning the College World Series (in 2000). We jumped on them early and finished the game with a double play.”
K-State needs to close the deal, and soon, if it wants to make a run for the Big 12 tournament and beyond. Edwards is convinced the Wildcats have the components to do it, even if they haven’t consistently proved it. But to upend the UC-Irvines and Arizona States tells Edwards there’s hope.
“There has been a big sense of underachievement in all aspects. Guys haven’t been doing what was expected, including myself,” Edwards said. “As our coaching staff said, every game is a must-win from here on out. It doesn’t matter which team it is. We still believe.”
K-State has eight victories against ranked teams in 2008:
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Score |
| March 28 | Okla. State | 22 | 4-3 |
| March 30 | Okla. State | 22 | 4-0 |
| April 11 | Baylor | 30 | 6-1 |
| April 23 | UC-Irvine | 11 | 9-7 |
| April 26 | Texas | 25 | 4-1 |
| April 29 | Wichita St. | 8 | 3-2 |
| May 4 | Missouri | 14 | 4-3 |
| May 6 | Arizona St. | 3 | 7-6 |