April 20, 2016  at  |
Baylor (17-20, 4-8) at Kansas State (16-21, 3-9)
April 22-24, 2016 | Manhattan, Kan. | Tointon Stadium (2,331)
SERIES NOTES 
|
FRI. | 6:30 P.M.
Stats | Audio | Video
Probable Starters:
BU -LHP Daniel Castano
2-4, 4.10 ERA
KSU - LHP Parker Rigler
2-6, 4.63 ERA
|  | SAT. | 4:00 P.M.
Stats | Audio | Video
Probable Starters:
BU - RHP Drew Tolson
4-2, 4.45 ERA
KSU - RHP Levi MaVorhis
4-3, 3.91 ERA
| | SUN. | 1:00 P.M.
Stats | Audio | Video
Probable Starters:
BU - RHP Kyle Hill
1-2, 4.30 ERA
KSU - RHP Corey Fischer
1-3, 4.91 ERA
|
 |
WACO, Texas - Baylor baseball heads to Manhattan, Kansas, for a three-game series against Kansas State this weekend to kick of a stretch of road games in six of BU's next seven contests. Games are slated for 6:30 p.m. CT Friday on FOX College Sports Pacific, 4 p.m. Saturday on ESPN3 and 1 p.m. Sunday on ESPN3.
All Baylor baseball games are broadcast live on Waco's 1660 ESPN Central Texas (1330 AM/100.9 FM in Temple, Belton and Killeen). Derek Smith provides the play-by-play with Steve Johnigan adding color commentary. Live streaming audio, video and GameTracker also are available for all Baylor baseball games online at BaylorBears.com.
SERIESà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € INFO
Date(s): April 22-24, 2016
Time(s): 6:30 PM | 4 PM | 1 PM CT
Location: Manhattan, Kan.
Stadium: Tointon Stadium (2,331)
TV: FCSP (Fri.) | ESPN3 (Sat., Sun.)
Radio: ESPN/KRZI 1660 AMà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € (Waco)
Talent: Derek Smith (pxp), Steve Johnigan (color)
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: BU leads 43-23
Streak: KSU has won 2
Waco: BU leads 26-7
Manhattan: BU leads 14-13
Neutral Site: KSU leads 4-3
Rodriguez vs: 0-0
First Meeting: March 28, 1966
Last Meeting: April 26, 2015
SERIES MULTIMEDIA
Live Stats: KStateSports.com
Audio: BaylorBears.com
Video: KStateSports.com
Twitter Updates: @BaylorBaseball
BAYLOR BEARS
2016 Record: 17-20
2016 Big 12 Record: 4-8
Head Coach: Steve Rodriguez
Career: 303-318 (13th season)
BU: 17-20 (1st season)
2016 STAT LEADERS
AVG: T.J. Raguse (.339)
2B: Darryn Sheppard (9)
HR: Darryn Sheppard (6)
RBI: Darryn Sheppard (36)
SB: Steven McLean (6)
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
2016 Record: 16-21
2016 Big 12 Record: 3-9
Head Coach: Brad Hill
Career: 824-415-3 (22nd season)
KSU: 406-324-3 (13th season)
2016 STAT LEADERS
AVG: Clayton Dalrymple (.349)
2B: Clayton Dalrymple (10)
HR: Jake Scudder (4)
RBI: Moore, Wodtke (28)
SB: Clayton Dalrymple (12)
TEAM QUICK NOTES
*Baylor has won 14 of the 19 all-time Big 12 series vs. Kansas State but the Wildcats took two of three in Waco last season.
*Among Big 12 leaders, Troy Montemayor is first in saves (8), Steven McLean is second in HBPs (11), Darryn Sheppard is second in RBI (36), fifth in total bases (79), sixth in home runs (6), 10th in slugging percentage (.545) and hits (48), Richard Cunningham is fifth in HBPs (9), and Daniel Castano is sixth in strikeouts (48).
*Among NCAA leaders, Montemayor is 20th in saves and McLean is 26th in HBPs.
*Baylor has won three of its eight three-game series in 2016 and 24 of 52 since 2012.
*Baylor has scored at least one run in the first inning 13 times in 37 games and has scored 27 first-inning runs in 2016.
*Baylor already has 20 home runs in 37 games in 2016, which are three more than the team had in 55 games in 2015 -- BU has hit 20 or more homers for the first time since blasting 46 in 2012.
*Baylor is 4-6 on the road in 2016.
-BU-
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Foundation Bordering between frustrating and exciting, Steve Rodriguez can see how close the Baylor baseball team is to being near the top of the Big 12 standings.
Instead, with two extra-inning losses and two others by one run, the Bears (17-20, 4-8) find themselves fighting just to stay out of the cellar going into a three-game weekend series at Kansas State (16-21, 3-9).
"That's one of the exciting things about it, and also frustrating, is that you see what our guys are doing," Rodriguez said. "We're one hit away or one pitch away or one defensive play away. That's what we're talking about with a lot of our guys is making sure that we're finding a way to win those games."
Catcher Matt Menard said it's a fine line between being motivated and discouraged.
"Staying motivated through this whole thing is crucial for us," he said. "Just because we've hit some rough patches, we still have a good team, we still have a good group of guys and we still have a chance to make a good run in the Big 12 Tournament. And that's what we have to do. We have to keep our goals set and just move forward."
In dropping four straight at home, including Tuesday's 6-5 loss to Sam Houston State, it's come down to late-inning defensive lapses or lack of execution. The Bears had a ninth-inning error that led to two unearned runs in the loss to the Bearkats.
"That's one of the things we really like to pride ourselves on is making sure we're able to pick the ball up and throw it across the diamond. And we've made some mistakes. That's what's frustrating," Rodriguez said. "And the guys know it. So, it's not like they don't care about it. They do realize it, and it's something we're going to keep working on."
What's encouraging to the first-year head coach is seeing "where we were at the beginning of the season to where we are now."
"As a coaching staff, we were talking about it, and we're very happy to see what our guys are doing," he said. "The biggest focus this week has just been trying to eliminate some of the smaller mistakes that are costing us these games."
Since losing its first eight conference games, K-State has rebounded to take the series finale against Texas, 3-2, and two of three on the road at West Virginia before falling to Nebraska in 11 innings.
"They're going to be aggressive. Their starting pitching has been pretty good," Rodriguez said of the Wildcats. "We know offensively, especially at their ballpark, they're going to be attacking . . . depending on which way the wind's blowing, I guess. I've never been there before, so it's going to be exciting for me to see as well."
Friday's 6:30 p.m. series opener at Tointon Stadium will pit lefties Daniel Castano of Baylor (2-4, 4.10 ERA) and Parker Rigler of K-State (2-6, 4.63). Junior right-hander Drew Tolson (4-3, 4.45) will look to rebound from a rough start against OSU in Saturday's 2 p.m. tilt, while freshman righty Kyle Hill (1-2, 4.30) will go in Sunday's 1 p.m. series finale.
"Drew had a bad day. Normally, he locates a lot better, he's putting the ball down in the zone. He didn't do that against Oklahoma State," Rodriguez said. "So, that's frustrating. But we have to pick him up as well, offensively and defensively. That's what has led to some of our success and allowed us to get deep into games with a chance to win is just that starting pitching."
