Kansas State Baseball: First National Ranking Since 2009
By Dave Thoman
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Fresh off a three game sweep of the University of Kansas and in position to take the Big 12 regular season championship with a two game lead over Oklahoma and West Virginia, Kansas State entered the top 25 for the first time in four years yesterday. The Wildcats, at 37-15 overall and 14-7 in the Big 12, sit at #21 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll and at #19 in Baseball America’s Top 25.
Kansas State joins Oklahoma (35-16, 13-9) and Oklahoma State (36-13, 11-9) as the league’s representatives in the USA Today rankings. The Sooners are ranked immediately ahead of the Wildcats at #20 and the Cowboys are #18. In the Baseball America poll, Oklahoma State is immediately behind K-State at #20 while Oklahoma sits at #25. Despite posting the same conference record as Oklahoma and a better record than Oklahoma State, West Virginia is not ranked nor did it receive votes in either poll.
Kansas State can secure at least a portion of the conference crown by avoiding a sweep during its three game homestand against the Sooners – two wins would secure an unshared championship. The Wildcats opened conference play by taking their series against West Virginia 2-1. They have not played the Sooners this year. The Big 12 championship tournament will begin Wednesday, May 22 with games everyday until a winner is crowned on Sunday the 26th.