Following their three-game sweep of Oklahoma State this weekend, the Wildcats will have just one day to prepare for a non-conference clash with in state rival Wichita State on Tuesday.
It may not be the first rival that comes to many K-State fans, but after two years in the program, junior relief pitcher Thomas
Rooke understands the significance of this game.
"It's going to be electric here, like nothing we have had this year" he said. "My first two years it's been electric every time they've come here. It's going to be packed."
First pitch for the showdown between the Wildcats (19-3) and the Shockers (14-7) is set for 6:30 p.m. The game will be the broadcast on Kansas 22 as well as on 1350 KMAN.
Rooke recorded the save in the most recent meeting between the Wildcats and Shockers. He shut the door on a 4-3 victory by the Wildcats on April 15th in Wichita last year.
After an impressive outing on Sunday against Oklahoma State, one in which he struck out a career high seven batters, Rooke will be one of the first options out of the bullpen for head coach Brad Hill.
K-State's offense heated up over the weekend. The Wildcats are coming off a series in which they scored 36 runs against Oklahoma State.
Junior first baseman Kent Urban led the offensive attack in the series, going 7-for-12 with two doubles in the sweep of the Cowboys. He is hitting .338 on the year, and it will be the first opportunity for the Barton County Community College transfer to face the Shockers in a Wildcat uniform.
"Coach [Hill] said it is probably going to be the most electric crowd we have [seen] this year," Urban said. "I'm excited. It should be a good match up."
Meanwhile, the Wildcats saw yet another impressive performance from their pitching staff this weekend. Sophomore left-hander Kyle Hunter registered his fifth win of the season in the second game of the double header Sunday, throwing six innings and giving up just one earned run.
The three-man starting rotation, comprised of senior Ryan Daniel, sophomore Evan Marshall and Hunter, now has a combined 12-0 record on the year.
"It's great to play behind them (the pitching rotation)," Urban said. "You know they are going to pump strikes."
As a junior in the program, Rooke knows what to expect in this rivalry game, and said he is ready for another opportunity to face the Shockers at home. He said with the momentum built from this weekend's sweep, the Wildcats will head into the game with plenty of confidence .
"It's awesome," Rooke said, "It's a big deal, and hopefully the rest of Manhattan knows it."
The starting pitcher for Tuesday's match up with Wichita State has not yet been announced. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
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