K-State Baseball To Face Oregon State In Super Regional Action
By Dave Thoman
Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Following a sweep of its Manhattan Regional competition with wins against Wichita State (20-11), Bryant University (7-1), and Arkansas (4-3), the K-State BatCats (44-17) will travel to Goss Stadium in Corvallis, OR to take on Oregon State (48-10) this weekend. The Super Regional competition will feature a best-of-three format, with the winner moving on to the College World Series in Omaha.
K-State made history on Sunday against Arkansas when it won its 44th game, surpassing the previous program high of 43. In the process, the team qualified for the first Super Regional berth in school history. Oregon State is the #3 overall seed in the tournament – earning the program the right to host the Super Regional – and is playing in its fifth Super Regional in program history.
The series will feature one of the NCAA’s best hitting teams against on the nation’s best pitching staffs. The Wildcats have hit .324 as a team this year, the second highest average in the country. They will be going up against an Oregon State team sporting a 2.18 ERA, also second best in the nation, with the entire rotation earning Pac-12 First Team honors. Both teams’ pitchers are backed up by solid defensive players, although the Wildcats should hold a slight edge here. K-State is tied for 29th nationally with a .975 fielding percentage, while Oregon State is tied for 44th with .973 success rate.
Oregon State is the #5 ranked team in the NCAA, and has compiled a 22-4 record at home this season. K-State is ranked #17 but struggled on the road, going 12-8. Although both teams won their respective regular season league championships, K-State fell short in its bid in a tornado-shortened Big 12 tournament. The Pac-12 does not have a postseason tournament, and the Beavers rallied to earn an extra-inning victory over 10th place Washington State on the last game of the season and clinch their conference.
The series will get underway on Saturday at 6 p.m. Central, followed by a 9 p.m. game on Sunday and, if necessary, another 6 p.m. match on Monday. Each competition will be available on ESPNU.