Wichita State goes with untested rotation against Indiana State

The certainty Wichita State baseball coach Todd Butler has for the Shockers’ pitching staff was forced upon him, and it isn’t the kind of certainty he wants.

Butler can say without hesitation that Jeb Bargfeldt, Tyler Jones and Isaac Anderson will start this weekend’s games against Indiana State, but only because he doesn’t have many other options.

Sam Tewes and Willie Schwanke, originally slated to be part of WSU’s weekend rotation, will both miss the remainder of the season with injuries. Tewes left his previous start with a shoulder injury and Schwanke has a torn lat muscle.

Schwanke, a junior, will likely apply for a medical hardship to earn an extra year of eligibility. The two-way player appeared in seven games as a hitter and seven as a pitcher before the injury that will prevent him from throwing for three months.

Reliever Taylor Goshen has been out with elbow tendinitis and his availability for this weekend is uncertain.

“Our pitching staff has kind of dwindled a little bit,” Butler said.

So has WSU’s lineup, with shortstop Tanner Kirk also sidelined for the rest of the season because of injury.

Bargfeldt and Jones are freshmen who started as mid-week options but have been forced into the top two spots in the weekend rotation with Anderson, who pitched in relief during Wednesday’s 13-12, 11-inning loss to Kansas.

Sam Hilliard started that game and lasted three innings, pressing the bullpen into extended duty. Relievers who are perhaps better suited for one-inning roles are being asked to do more so midweek pitchers can pitch again on the weekend if needed.

“We have to go two (innings), two, two, two in the middle of the week so we don’t tax our pitchers for the weekend,” Butler said.

This story was originally published April 2, 2015 at 1:12 PM with the headline "Wichita State goes with untested rotation against Indiana State."