K-State 26-19 (12-9)
Kansas State won a big series last weekend against Houston, coming just short of a sweep. The Wildcats’ offense and pitching were in sync, and they started to look like the Wildcats were climbing back to their peak again. However, with nine consecutive road losses, one trend will have to give.
Keegan O’Connor had a good weekend for K-State and got his groove back after a minor slump. O’Connor played in all 21 games for K-State in conference play and leads the team with six home runs and a .355 average in those conference games. He has a chance to increase his home run numbers with the elevation at BYU.
Left-handed starter Jacob Frost pitched like one of the best pitchers in the Big 12 in his last two Friday starts. He is a competitor on the mound and stays effective even when throwing over 100 pitches late in contests. Frost will look to continue the momentum he built over his last two starts.
BYU 21-21 (6-15)
BYU lost five consecutive Big 12 games, which it will try to end this weekend against K-State. BYU has a dangerous offense that can cause trouble for teams due to the high elevation at its ballpark. Consistent pitching will be key for BYU to keep the powerful Wildcat offense quiet.
BYU first baseman Cooper Vest has had a solid season at the plate, hitting 14 home runs while maintaining a .298 average. Vest bats from the left side, which should be an advantage for the Wildcats starters, all of whom are left-handed, as they will be a tough matchup to attack from the plate.
Infielder Brock Watkins is another dangerous bat for BYU, as he has nine home runs on the season and slashes an impressive .339 batting average. Watkins can hit the ball out of the park himself with ease, but also does a good job of getting on base for the hitters behind him to knock him home.
Who to Watch:
K-State: LF Keegan O’Connor, LHP Jacob Frost
BYU: 1B Cooper Vest, INF Brock Watkins
K-State:
OBP: .378
Home Runs: 77
ERA: 5.43
BYU:
OBP: .391
Home Runs: 55
ERA: 7.14
