Baseball preview: Long Beach State

Wichita State (0-0, 0-0American) vs. Long Beach State (0-0, 0-0Big West)

on Friday, February 17| 8:00 PM CT | Long Beach, California (Bohl Diamond at Blair Field)
TV: ESPN+| Radio: KFH 97.5FM/1240AM
RHP Clark Candiotti(0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Graham Osman (0-0, 0.00)

on Saturday, February 18| 8:00 PM CT | Long Beach, California (Bohl Diamond at Blair Field)
TV: Nothing | Radio: KFH 97.5FM/1240AM
LHP Payton Tolle (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Nico Zeglin (0-0, 0.00)

on Sunday, February 19| 3:00 PM CT | Long Beach, California (Bohl Diamond at Blair Field)
TV: ESPN+| Radio: KFH 97.5FM/1240AM
RHP Grant Adler (0-0, 0.00) vs. TBA

SCENE SETTER: Wichita State opens the 2023 season with a seven-game road trip that includes a three-game series at Long Beach State and a four-game road trip at Utah Tech. The Shockers are looking for their first win to start the 2018 campaign a season ago, when WSU swept a three-game series at McNeese State. Friday’s season opener will be Wichita State’s first game at Cal State since 2017, when the Shockers dropped two of three games at Cal Poly. Wichita State won’t play a Wednesday contest until March 7 after three weekend series. WSU aims to bounce back from a 21-36 season a year ago, the second-most losses in program history. Interim head coach Loren Hibbs was named to lead the Shockers in December following the departure of Eric Wedge, who compiled a 65-61 record in three seasons at the helm. Wichita State is looking for its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since the 2013 season, a regional bid that was later rejected by the NCAA.

SHOCKER BASEBALL ON RADIO AND ESPN PLUS: KFH 97.5 FM/1240 AM will once again serve as the radio home for all Wichita State baseball broadcasts in 2023. Former Shocker pitcher (1991-94) and Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Famer Shane Dennis and Directed by Denning is a contest call against Long Beach State and Utah Tech as “The Voice of the Shockers” and Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Famer Mike Kennedy returns to television following the conclusion of Wichita State’s men’s basketball season. Both Friday and Sunday’s games against Long Beach State will be streamed on ESPN+. In addition to live stats, live audio is available for all games at GoShockers.com/listen and ShockerStats.com.

SERIES HISTORY: The Shockers and Dirtbags have a long and storied history against each other, having battled 53 times in program history. Long Beach State is 29-24 in the all-time series, with the last meeting coming in 2015. The Dirtbags swept a three-game series from the Shockers that season, throwing a victory in Sunday’s series finale. Long Beach State has claimed nine of the last 10 games in the series; The Shockers’ only win in that stretch was a 5-4 victory in 2014 thanks to a ninth-inning single by Daniel Kihle. Wichita State’s last sweep of a ranked team came against the Dirtbags in 2006 when the Shockers knocked off #21 LBSU in three straight. The teams have met once in the College World Series, an 8-5 Wichita State victory in the opening round of the 1991 CWS. The Shockers advanced to the finals after winning two more games, but lost to LSU 6-3 in the championship game.

SCOUTING LONG BEACH STATE: The Dirtbags finished 29-27 in 2022, including 17-13 in Big West play. Seven of Long Beach State’s 29 wins came against ranked competition, including a year-opening sweep against #3 Mississippi State and a record 28-2 win against #17 Cal Poly. The Dirtbags are tasked with replacing their entire weekend rotation and most of the pitching staff as a whole, including freshman standout Juaron Watts-Brown, who transferred to future Shocker opponent Oklahoma State. Long Beach State added several D1 transfers to the roster, including projected Friday starter Graham Osman (Arizona State) and Saturday signing Nico Zegli (Gonzaga). Position player transfers are highlighted by infielder Alex Champagne (Arizona State), infielder Nick Marinconz (Cal Poly), outfielder Jashia Morrissey-Jakel (Cal State Bakersfield) and outfielder Joey Walls (UNLV), who led the nation with 26 doubles last season. . Head coach Eric Valenzuela returns for his fourth season at the helm of the Dirtbags after six years at St. Mary’s (2014-19). The Dirtbags program is one of the most storied in college baseball history, with 1,900 wins and four College World Series appearances heading into the 2023 season. Long Beach State is seeking its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017.

BACK IN THE SADDLE: Interim head coach Loren Hibbs is in his first season leading the Shockers after succeeding Eric Wedge in December 2022. Hibbs starred as the Shockers’ record-setting outfielder, helping WSU to the program’s first CWS appearance in 1982, and still holds the NCAA record. one-season rushing score of 125. He then served as an assistant to legendary Shocker head coach Gene Stephenson before moving to Charlotte, where Hibbs led the 49ers for 27 seasons and more than 800 wins. He returned to the Wichita State program after the 2019 season and joined the staff as the director of baseball operations.

A BIG THANK YOU: The Shockers had four players named to the American Athletic Conference’s preseason all-conference team, the most of any club in the league. Infielder Brock Roddenfield player Chuck Ingramdesignated attacker Payton Tolle and a right-handed pitcher Cameron hi all were selected, and Rodden was named the conference’s preseason player of the year. Despite having the top four honors in the league, Wichita State was picked fifth in the eight-team American Athletic Conference preseason poll.

RODDEN’S RETURN: Infielder Brock Rodden burst onto the scene as one of college baseball’s most impactful players in 2022. The Seminole State transfer led the Shockers in batting average (.338), fielding percentage (.441) and slugging percentage (.653). runs, the most by a Shocker since Drew Moffitt hit 26 long balls in 2004. He was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 10th round of the 2022 MLB Draft (304 overall), but did not sign as one of three players selected in the top 10 rounds to make so.

CALIFORNIA BLUES: Wichita State will look to reverse the trend of recent struggles in Golden State this weekend. Since the 2007 season, the Shockers have gone 4-20 in the state of California with wins over Cal Poly (2017), UC Santa Barbara (2014), Long Beach State (2010) and Pepperdine (2007). Wichita State’s last series win in California was a three-game sweep against Long Beach State in 2006.

JUCO INFLUX: The Wichita State 2023 roster features eight junior college transfers, several of which are expected to be immediate. Former Mississippi State outfielder Kyte McDonald brings elite speed in center field and former St. Mary’s righty Clark Candiotti will take the ball as Wichita State’s opening day starter. Two members of Cowley College’s NJCAA runner-up team will star in the infield. David Herring is a mix for multiple infield spots and a right-handed pitcher Grant Adler starts on sunday. Right-minded Matt Wilkinson, Colton Vercoe and Carter Rost added to solidify the bullpen and catcher Mauricio Millán is the appetizer behind the plate.

BULLPEN RELOAD: There may be no bigger question mark for the Shockers in 2023 than the development of a bullpen that returns just over 20% of the team’s plate appearances from a year ago and no saves. Southpaw Caden prefers was outstanding last season, posting 15.1 consecutive scoreless innings as a “starter” and a lefty. Jace Miner showed flashes of brilliance as both a midweek starter and long reliever. A true junior Nate Adler In the fall, the coaches highlighted him as a resignation candidate and second-year right-hander Robert Cranz there is electrical stuff that is suitable for showing up in late situations. The one who takes a closer role will be tasked with replacing Connor Holdenwho pitched a 2.78 ERA and six saves to a free agent deal with the Detroit Tigers.

FIND THE BEST: Despite Wichita State’s disappointing final record, the Shockers showed on several occasions their ability to compete with some of the top programs in the country. WSU swept three Super Regionals a year ago, beat Texas A&M 6-5 in the Frisco Classic, defeated East Carolina 5-0 in ECU’s only home conference loss and beat College World Series runner-up Oklahoma 18-0. where WSU held the Sooners to just one hit.

REDUCING K: If Wichita State takes a big step forward offensively in 2023, the most important metric to watch will be the Shockers’ contact ratio. WSU struck out 514 times last season, the most in a single campaign in program history. 10 different Shockers have been aired more than 30 times.

BIG LEAGUE LINE: Two Wichita State recruits have fathers who played the game at the highest level. Right-handed pitcher Clark Candiotti is the son of knuckleballer Tom Candiotti, who spent 16 seasons in Major League Baseball with five different teams, and infielder Jack Little is the son of Mark Little, a four-year big leaguer with five different clubs.

TWO WAY CUSTOMS: Second year student Payton Tolle He quickly became a fan favorite in his first season with the Shockers in 2022. He moved into the weekend rotation and established himself as a fearsome performer in the middle of the order. He hit .317 with seven doubles, three home runs and 18 RBI and went 4-6 with a 4.48 ERA on the mound in 12 starts. The impressive slugger created one of the most memorable moments of the season with a two-run home run in the seventh inning against Texas A&M to help the Shockers win the Frisco Classic. He was selected by Perfect Game as The American’s #9 draft prospect in the class of 2024 and D1Baseball’s #14.

PENNINGTON POP: One newcomer to watch is the junior transfer Garrett Pennington, who joins the Shockers after three seasons at Division II powerhouse Central Missouri (2020-22). Pennington was named a D2CCA All-American in 2022 after putting up ridiculous numbers in his final season with the Mules; The Lenexa, Kansas, native slashed .397/.477/.732 for a 1.209 OPS. Pennington finished the year with 23 doubles, 11 home runs and 50 RBI in 49 games.