KU 8, WSU 2 – Final. WSU loses four straight at home for the first time under Gene Stephenson. KU pitcher Lee Ridenhour went out of his way to be complimentary of WSU.
KU 6, WSU 2 (bottom 7th) - KU adds three more, two on a double by Thompson. WSU used weekend starter Jordan Cooper in relief, but only after Mitch Caster got in trouble. I don’t understand why, if you’re going to use Cooper, why it’s not in a better situation. He is the kind of pitcher who could have kept it close. Asking WSU’s offense to produce five runs in three innings is asking a lot.
Shockers with 1st and 3rd with two outs and Taylor Brown up. Brown grounds out on a nice play by Thompson at third. That might have been WSU’s best chance. Every missed opportunity seems to weigh on this team and make things more difficult.
Ridenhour is out after giving up a one-out hit and a walk. No reason for him to face Jones, who has a homer and a double. He leaves to some boos from the Shocker fans who remember his comments after the March game. Good effort by Ridenhour, although not quite as spotless as the earlier game.
Flynn is out after giving up a single and a walk. Caster in for relief. WSU probably can’t give up another run. I would think KU’s bullpen is rested and the advantage goes to the Jayhawks after not playing last night. Good effort by Flynn, who continues to get better. But you would like to see him recover from the home run and finish off the inning.
KU 3, WSU 2 (in the sixth) - KU’s Tony Thompson hits an 0-2 pitch out to right with two outs.
WSU 2, KU 1 (bottom fifth) – KU scores on a wild pitch. Flynn has been very good. Seven strikeouts. Four hits. No walks. No leadoff batters reached.
2-0 after three. Flynn has five strikeouts and has allowed two two-out doubles.
WSU 2, KU 0 (bottom 2nd) - Ryan Jones homers to center to break a streak of nine scoreless innings against KU pitcher Lee Ridenhour. It is WSU’s first homer since April 18 at Missouri State.WSU’s three hits match its total against Ridenhour in eight innings in March.
0-0 after one. WSU wastes a leadoff single by Tyler Grimes.
Basketball news – A juco forward chose to walk on at Illinois State rather than take a scholarship at Southern Illinois. It’s probably not that cut and dried, with financial aid options, but it looks good for the Redbirds.
WSU signee Tobin Mateychick is hitting well for Enid High. He is signed as a pitcher at WSU. He will be one to watch on draft day.
Just what WSU didn’t need on top of a 13-inning loss to Oral Roberts – catcher Cody Lassley won’t play tonight. He broke the tip of the index finger on his right (throwing) hand trying to bunt Tuesday night. Big loss for the defense. Lassley is also one of WSU’s hottest hitters – 12 of 26 during his seven-game hitting streak. He is listed as “day to day” (“aren’t we all” is the appropriate response) regarding the weekend series at SIU.
Chris O’Brien will move from third to catcher. Chance Sossamon will make his first start of the season and play third. He has seven at-bats in five games as a reserve infielder.