KU (15-14) vs. Missouri State (13-9)

by James Quinn on Mar 27, 2007 9:38 AM CDT in Kansas Jayhawk Baseball

KU travels to Springfield today for a single game vs. Missouri State. First pitch is at 7:00PM CST. KLWN will not broadcast the game but the enemy play-by-play can be heard via webcast. Here is the link for that broadcast site.

Missouri State has a pretty good baseball program. Currently they have an RPI of #75, which compares favorable with the ranking of our beloved Jayhawks (#141). KU trails in the all-time series 22-19. In their only meeting last year KU routed the Bears 19-7, but that was an anomaly. Overall SMU finished with a very respectable 33-22 record, including a 15-8 mark in the competitive Missouri Valley Conference. This should be a pretty good game. A win tonight would be meaningful to the Jayhawk's season.

Like KU, Missouri State has accumulated most of its wins vs. weaker opponents. The only good "RPI win" they have raked up was by taking one of three at (#16) Minnesota. Other series of note:

Won two of three vs. (#90) Middle Tennessee State
Like KU, won two of three vs. (#202) South Dakota State
Like KU, lost to our hereditary enemy, (#94) Oral Roberts.

Likely starters
KU: Andres Esquibel (4-1, 4.11 ERA, 30.2 Innings, 36 hits, 11/28 BB/K) vs.
MSU: Tim Clubb (2-0, 5.96, 25.2 Innings, 38 hits, 8/11 BB/K).

Esquibel has had a rough time of it lately pitching out of the bullpen. Hopefully he will regain his earlier effectiveness as a starter. If Esquible makes an early exist Marceil, Marcin and Hayakawa will probably pitch long relief. There is an off chance Nick Czyz might come out of the pen for a little work. I'm sure Price will not hold back tonight, KU needs every win they can get right now.

Ross Detwiler
If you can make it to the game tonight, or to Missouri State's visit to Hoglund in on May 9th, there is a chance you will see LHP Ross Detwiler . If he appears it will only be in relief, he is the MSU ace and will be saved for weekend work. Detwiler is a first rounder, Baseball America has him ranked as the #13 pick overall, and the #8 college prospect nationally. Heck, he might even be in the Royals organization next year. Dayton More loves live arms and they will have plenty of opportunities to scout him.

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MSU 7 - KU 2

KU fell to MSU last night 7-2. The Jayhawks could not put together a big inning, only scoring single runs on a Kyle Murphy solo shot in the third and a scat run on a wild pitch in the 8th.

KU recap and boxscore

Andres Esquibel pitched fairly well, giving the loss a silver lining. MSU freshman starter Tim Clubb was very much on his game. He limited the Jayhawks to four hits over 7.1 innings. Closer Buddy Baumann set KU down meekly in the ninth, striking out the side.

The loss drops KU's overall record to 15-15, and that is a bit deceptive as their actual record is 13-15 vs. NCAA Div-I teams, the only games which count in the RPI calculations.

The Jayhawks will play a Big-12 three game set vs. Missouri this weekend. Chances for the team to turn around the season are slipping away. Missouri is playing exceptionally well.

by James Quinn on Mar 28, 2007 10:12 AM CDT reply actions