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Wichita State's pitchers worked to ignore the scoreboard last season. They wanted to do their job without worrying about run support.
Let's just say it's easier to execute that mental trick this season.
"You try not to think too much about whether your team is going to score runs or not," WSU pitcher Tim Kelley said. "You get four or five innings into a tight game, and you just never know when you were going to score. You were putting pressure on yourself to keep them to nothing."
That was 2009 for the offensively challenged Shockers. It's a new season and WSU (9-1) is embarking on a West Coast trip with loads of momentum and confidence with the bats. The Shockers played seven of their first 10 games at home. Starting tonight with a three-game series at Long Beach State, the competition takes a step up. WSU plays a two-game series at Arizona next week, followed by a home series against Washington State and two games at Oral Roberts.
Kelley and the WSU pitchers know there is more room for error in 2010. The Shockers are hitting .352 (.275 in 2009), with a slugging percentage of .602 (.387) and an on-base percentage of ..444 (.362). They are averaging 10.7 runs, up from 5.4 in 2009.
WSU has scored 10 or more runs six times — one fewer than all of 2009.
"It's a huge confidence factor to have that many runs on the scoreboard when you're pitching," Kelley said.
Just as coach Gene Stephenson predicted before the season, the Shockers are hitting for a number of reasons. Returners improved — senior catcher Cody Lassley is hitting .643 with four home runs. Newcomers added pop — junior transfer Preston Springer leads the team with 15 RBIs and five doubles. There are more options and more depth — senior outfielder Bret Bascue is hitting .667 in six games and delivered WSU's first pinch-hit homer since 2007.
"Chemistry is really good all up and down the lineup," center fielder Kevin Hall said. "Guys know what they can do, know what they're supposed to be doing, and that's huge."
Stephenson, like the other Shockers, will know more about his team after this 10-game stretch.
"We'll see how we perform on the road," he said. "I really believe we're going to perform well, and you love that test."
None of the next four opponents are ranked in the Baseball America poll, yet they are all teams regularly in NCAA regionals. Long Beach State is 5-6 with two wins over Arizona. Arizona is 8-4 with a series win over Cal State Fullerton as part of its 26-game season-opening homestand. Washington State is 9-1 as it begins a road trip to Texas A&M, Dallas Baptist and WSU. Oral Roberts is 2-6 after losing three of four at Baylor.
"This will be a good chance to see where we stack up with teams (out West)," Kelley said. "It was good to get some confidence under our belts. We're ready to find out good we really are."
