The RoundHouse | 3/28/2021 4:40:00 PM
Wichita State lefty
Spencer Hynes has strikeout totals of nine, 11, eight and seven, all in 6 1/3 innings or fewer.
The swing-and-miss stuff is there - when he lets it work for him, not against him.
"He's still walking too many guys," catcher
Ross Cadena said. "There's still things he needs to improve on, in between the ears. Takes care of that and he's going to be lights out."
On Sunday, the Shockers defeated Omaha 11-1 to complete a three-game sweep and build a four-game win streak. Wichita State battered Omaha pitching all weekend to outscore the Mavericks 34-6.
The best development came from the pitching staff that walked one hitter in the first two games and set itself up for the start of conference play with solid performances from starters and relievers. Four pitchers combined on a two-hitter on Sunday.
"We were more consistent this week, really in all areas," coach
Eric Wedge said.
Hynes joined that group after a shaky first inning in which he walked three hitters with two outs, consistently missing high in the strike zone. He escaped without allowing a run and sat down the Mavericks in order over the next three innings. A lead-off walk turned into a run in the fifth before Hynes shut down that threat from the Mavericks (8-12).
"Spencer made it tough on himself," Wedge said. "But he made pitches when he had to."
Hynes, a junior transfer, heard that message from pitching coach
Mike Pelfrey during a visit to the mound in the first inning.
"He said, 'Man, you're making this too hard on yourself,'" Hynes said. "Execute pitches, and he said they won't touch you."
Hynes went five innings, allowed one hit and struck out seven. A running catch at the wall by center fielder
David VanVooren ended the second.
Hynes started three games in two seasons at Houston and is adjusting to the grind and expectations of a spot in the rotation. He struck out nine in five innings against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, but two walks and a hit batter muddied his line score. He struck out 11 in a win over Dixie State before struggling at Arizona and Stetson. Sunday's effort lowered his ERA from 8.18 to 7.00.
Control problems, Hynes said, surface when he tries to throw a little extra hard or spot that perfect location. His natural velocity and movement are good enough most times and, as Pelfrey reminded, he needs to trust that.
"Typically, I'll put myself in trouble," Hynes said. "It's usually just me trying to make the perfect pitch, which is never what a pitcher should be doing. Usually, in baseball, trying to do more will actually result in less."
The Shockers (12-8) start American Athletic Conference play, for the first time since 2019, with a four-game series at Houston this week that starts eight in a row against the Cougars. Shocker pitchers used wins over Kansas State and Omaha to pick up some confidence with four starts of five innings or more.
The bullpen started a strong week with four scoreless inning the 5-1 win over Kansas State. On Sunday,
Ryan Stuempfig,
Foster Gifford and closer
Aaron Haase finished off a four-game stretch in which the bullpen allowed one earned run in 11 2/3 innings.
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
