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Kansas and Kansas State face crucial season-ending baseball series
By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGHThe Kansas City Star
LAWRENCE | The Kansas and Kansas State baseball teams are not hiding from the do-or-die reality of their series this weekend: Win two of three, and you’re in the Big 12 tournament next weekend in Oklahoma City. Lose two of three, and you’re going to need some help.
“If we don’t find a way to get to the Big 12 tournament,” KU coach Ritch Price said, “to me, the whole season will be a waste.”
K-State second baseman Brett Scott said: “We are fighting for our lives, fighting for our season.”
As if competition between the in-state rivals ever needed more ammunition. Tonight’s 6 p.m. series opener at Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence will kick off the last weekend of the regular season with the Jayhawks (30-24, 9-15 Big 12) in seventh place and the Wildcats (24-27, 8-16) one game back in ninth place. The top eight teams advance to the league tournament. Oklahoma (31-21-1, 8-15-1) currently stands in eighth.
The standings from the No. 6 seed down are so jumbled that the Big 12 office wouldn’t even attempt to break down all of the scenarios that could play out. One thing is certain for KU and K-State: Win the series, and fans can start booking hotel rooms in Bricktown, Oklahoma City’s downtown district.
If Kansas loses two of three, it would also lose the tiebreaker (result of head-to-head series) to the Wildcats. KU would need Oklahoma to also lose two of three to Oklahoma State. If the Jayhawks are swept by K-State, they would need the Sooners to be swept and for Texas Tech to lose at least once to Baylor.
If K-State loses two of three, it would need Oklahoma to be swept and Texas Tech to lose once. If the Wildcats are swept, they are out.
Whew.
It’s a good thing that K-State coach Brad Hill has stressed to his players that they shouldn’t get too far ahead of themselves.
“If you start thinking about Sunday on Friday,” Hill said, “you’re in trouble.”
Both squads are playing their best baseball of the year. Since being swept by Oklahoma State, the Jayhawks have gone 5-2, sweeping the Sooners and splitting four games with No. 14 Missouri. The Wildcats have gone 9-7 in the last month with wins over five ranked teams.
“It’s kind of part of being a cold-weather state,” KU left fielder John Allman said. “At the end of the year, we always seem to put it together.”
While K-State would likely have to win the series with KU and then win the Big 12 tournament to be invited to an NCAA regional, Kansas has a more realistic shot. Price says the Jayhawks need to win this weekend’s series and then win two or three games in Oklahoma City to be in the discussion. Certainly, neither coach should be worried about his players’ motivation.
“It’s not like you’re gonna try to do a Knute Rockne speech and fire them up,” Price said. “If anything, for me it’ll be about, ‘Hey, control your emotions. Play the game the right way. Play all weekend.’ ”