Three games in two days in the Cornhusker State face Kansas University’s softball team and its beleaguered pitching staff.
The Jayhawks (19-18 overall, 2-7 Big 12 Conference) are scheduled to meet Nebraska in a single game at 6 p.m. today in Lincoln, Neb., then bus over to Omaha for a 3 p.m. Thursday doubleheader with Creighton.
Kansas will be trying to even its season series with the Cornhuskers, who posted a 7-3 decision over the Jayhawks on March 30 at Arrocha Ballpark.
In that first meeting, the Huskers blew the game open with a five-run fifth inning that featured four walks, three hits and a hit batter.
KU’s pitchers continue to struggle in 8-7 and 8-5 losses last weekend to Baylor at Arrocha. After those two defeats, KU’s team earned-run average dipped to 2.92 overall, second worst in the Big 12.
In the nine league games, the Jayhawks’ team ERA is 5.33.
Bright spots offensively have been provided by shortstop Destiny Frankenstein and left fielder Ashley Frazer, who have boosted their batting averages to .359 and .326.
The Jayhawks will return this weekend to Arrocha to play Oklahoma.
Kansas University’s defending-champion men’s team and KU’s women’s team have qualified for the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships April 20-23 in Rockford, Ill.
Both KU squads qualified by finishing third in the sectional last weekend at Chattanooga, Tenn. The top four teams in each of the four sectionals advanced to Rockford.
Five members of the men’s team and a member of the women’s team were named Academic All-Americans by the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Assn. The six are Zach Taylor, Pat Eighmy, Ojas Sampat, Chris Dilley, Adam Keesling and Natalie Bennett.
To qualify for the academic award, bowlers had to have a grade point average of at least 3.5.
Kansas University’s bowling clubs will compete in the Midwest Sectional Qualifier March 22-23 in St. Louis. The KU men are ranked No. 5, while the women are No. 19.
The top 64 teams nationwide are assigned to four sectionals — the Midwest at St. Louis; East at Downington, Pa.; West at Las Vegas; and South at Louisville, Ky.
The top four teams at each sectional advance to the Sweet 16, the Intercollegiate Bowling Championship in April in Tulsa, Okla.
Leah Tabb had a promising freshman season, a stinker of a sophomore season and now the Kansas University catcher-outfielder is tearing it up as a junior.
Tabb already has tied the school single-season home run record with nine, and she has 32 runs batted in one more than she had in her first two years combined.
“My ultimate goal,” said Tabb, an Oklahoma City product, “would be to have the most RBIs and leave nobody on base the rest of the season.”
Ultimately, too, Tabb would like to break the school single-season home run record she shares with Shannon Stanwix and KU coach Tracy Bunge.
“I’d like to hit quite a few more,” Tabb said.
Bunge hit nine homers during her senior season in 1986. Stanwix, a Lawrence High product, belted nine during her junior year in 1999. Stanwix’s ninth came in the last game of the ’99 season, a 6-1 loss to Arizona in an NCAA regional contest.
Tabb was a freshman in ’99 and she hit four home runs that year with 22 RBI. However, she faltered in 2000 with just one homer and nine RBIs.
With nine regular season games remaining, plus the Big 12 tournament, Tabb is a threat to become the first KU player to reach double-digits in homers.
Kansas (27-20 overall, 7-4 Big 12) will put a seven-game win streak on the line today and Sunday at Iowa State (12-22, 1-8). Game times are 1 p.m. at ISU’s Southwest Athletic Complex.
The Cyclones defeated No. 12 Iowa, 6-4, earlier this week and played No. 14 Nebraska tough on Thursday, bowing 3-1.
“We can’t look past Iowa State,” Bunge stressed. “They’re all of a sudden playing well.”
KU can’t afford to look past ISU because the Jayhawks still have games remaining with Oklahoma and Nebraska, the two teams ahead of them in conference standings.
Kansas will send six track athletes to the NCAA championships this weekend. Scott Russell is one of the favorites to win the weight throw.
Also competing: Ryan Speers (shot), Charlie Gruber (mile), plus the distance medley team of Gruber, Jabari Wamble, Brian Blachly and Andy Tate.
