By: Wichita State
April 7 - Wichita State (13-18) at No. 25 Texas (17-15), 7 p.m.
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Date: April 7
First Pitch: 7 p.m. CDT
Location: Austin, Texas
Stadium: Disch Falk Field
Radio: KNSS 1330 AM
Talent: Mike Kennedy
Series: Wichita State leads Texas 3-2
Probable Pitching Matchup
April 7 — Chase Williams (RHP, 1-1, 8.78) vs. Josh Sawyer (LHP, 2-1, 4.50)
Quick Hits
• All four games this week will be broadcast on KNSS 1330 AM with Mike Kennedy calling the action. The games will also be on www.goshockers.com. Tuesday's game will be televised on the Longhorn Network with Kevin Dunn and Keith Moreland.
• Wichita State leads the overall series with Texas, 3-2. UT leads the series in Austin, 2-0.
• The two teams have not met since 1993 in the College World Series.
• WSU is 4-9 in road games in 2015. In those 13 games, the Shockers are hitting .232 with a 5.83 team ERA and a .948 fielding percentage.
• In those 13 road games, Ryan Tinkham is hitting .404, while Chase Rader is hitting .303 and Sam Hilliard is hitting .289.
• WSU is 4-6 in its last 10 games. In those 10 games, the Shockers are hitting .298 with a 7.48 ERA and a .967 fielding percentage.
• Ryan Tinkham is hitting .475 in the last 10 games, while Daniel Kihle is hitting .432 and Sam Hilliard is hitting .385.
• John Hayes has made five relief appearances in the last 10 games and is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 13.2 innings.
• Ryan Tinkham is currently on a 10-game hitting streak, while Sam Hilliard is on a six-game streak and Bob Arens is on a five-game streak.
• Ryan Tinkham is third nationally in doubles.
• WSU is 13th nationally in stolen bases.
• Ryan Tinkham and Daniel Kihle lead the Shockers with 13 multiple-hit games and Tinkham leads with seven multiple-RBI games.
• WSU is 640-252 all-time overall in the month of April.
• WSU is 17-10 on April 7 since 1978.
• Ryan Tinkham has been on base in 29 of 31 games this season.
• WSU is ranked 19th nationally in average attendance.
• WSU plays 37 games in 2015 against teams that were in the top-100 in the RPI in 2014. Nineteen of those are games against teams in the top-50.
• The Shocks were picked third in the MVC Preseason Poll.
• Junior outfielder Daniel Kihle and sophomore starting pitcher Sam Tewes were named to the preseason all-Valley team.
• WSU's recruiting class was ranked No. 2 by Collegiate Baseball.
• The Shockers welcome 24 newcomers in 2015.
• Six of the Shocker newcomers were drafted in 2014: Chase Rader (16th rd.), Isaac Anderson (19th rd.), Sam Hilliard (31st rd.), Chase Williams (37th rd.), Keenan Eaton (39th rd.) and Taylor Sanagorski (39th rd.)
• The Shocks set the school record for fewest home runs allowed in a season with 18 in 2014.
• WSU returns three starters and nine letterwinners from the 2014 team.
• The Shocker pitching staff returns one starting pitcher in Sam Tewes.
• WSU has ranked in the top 25 in attendance since 1999.
• Head Coach Todd Butler is in his second season as coach of the Shockers.
• Head Coach Todd Butler is the third base coach and Volunteer Assistant Coach Mike Sirianni is the first base coach.
Scouting Texas
The Longhorns are 17-15 overall and 5-4 in the Big 12. Wins this season have come against Rice twice, UTSA, Minnesota four times, UT Pan American, Stanford twice, Incarnate Word, West Virginia twice, Kansas State three times, and Texas State. Losses have come against Rice twice, San Diego twice, Stanford twice, West Virginia, UT Arlington, Nebraska three times, Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Oklahoma State three times. UT is hitting .245 as a team with a team ERA of 2.94. They also have a .975 fielding percentage. Leading the way offensively is Ben Johnson who is hitting .371 with seven doubles, seven triples, three home runs, 21 RBI and seven stolen bases. The Longhorns are led by head coach Augie Garrido.
Series History vs. the Longhorns
Wichita State leads the overall series with Texas, 3-2. Texas leads the series in Austin, 2-0. UT took both meetings in Austin in 1982. WSU won in Omaha at the College World Series in 1982, 1989 and 1993.
Last Meeting vs. UT
The last meeting between the two teams was June 7, 1993, at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Texas led 6-1, but WSU scored two in the sixth and four in the eighth to win 7-6. Darren Dreifort and Casey Blake each drove in two for the Shockers. Reliever Jaime Bluma earned the win.
Kihle vs. the MVC
Junior outfielder Daniel Kihle continued his scorching start to Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend against Indiana State. In the three games, he went 8-for-13 (.615) with five runs, one RBI, one walk and two stolen bases. He also had a career-high five hits on Saturday against the Sycamores. He is now hitting .583 in Valley play with nine runs, one double, one home run, six RBI, five walks and two stolen bases.
Arens Has Career Day
Senior catcher Bob Arens had a career day on Sunday against Indiana State. He went 2-for-3 with five RBI and two home runs. They were the first home runs of his career and the five RBI were also a career high. Arens is now hitting .371 on the season with five doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI. He is also on a career-best five-game hitting streak.
Tinkham on 10-Game Hitting Streak
Junior Ryan Tinkham is currently on a career-best 10-game hitting streak. During the streak, he is hitting .475 (19-for-40) with seven doubles, two home runs, seven RBI, seven walks and two stolen bases.
Tinkham Leads Valley in Doubles
Junior Ryan Tinkham had two more doubles this week to give him a team-best 15 on the season. He also leads the Valley in doubles. He is hitting a team-best .352 with 23 runs, 38 hits, 15 doubles, two home runs and 22 RBI.
Hilliard Catching Fire at the Plate
Junior Sam Hilliard has caught fire offensively in the last 10 games. He is 15-for-39 (.385) with 10 runs, three doubles, one home run and 18 RBI. On the season he is hitting .305 with 20 runs, six doubles, one home run and 24 RBI.
Hayes Steps Up in the Bullpen
Junior right-hander John Hayes has become a valuable part of the Shocker bullpen. In the last 10 games, he has made five appearances and is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA. He has pitched 13.2 innings and allowed just three earned runs with 16 strikeouts.