Last weekend San Diego. This weekend Santa Barbara.
Kansas University’s softball team is spending plenty of preseason time in Southern California.
The Jayhawks, who sport a 7-1 record and are off to their fastest start since 1999, are scheduled to play five games in the Softball by the Beach Tournament in Santa Barbara.
Kansas will open tonight against Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo and tourney host Cal Santa Barbara. Saturday afternoon, the Jayhawks will meet Utah and Brigham Young. Finally, KU will tangle with San Diego State Sunday afternoon.
Kansas has received solid pitching from junior Kara Pierce (5-1, 0.74 earned run average) in the early going and heavy hitting from newcomers Sylvia Pfeiffer and Jessica Moppin. Pfeiffer, a junior-college transfer outfielder, and Moppin, a freshman second baseman, have each hit three home runs.
Pfeiffer is hitting .375 with a .938 slugging percentage. Meanwhile, freshman catcher/outfielder Melaney Torres leads the Big 12 Conference in batting average (.444) and on-base percentage (.524).
Kansas opened the season at a tournament in St. Augustine, Fla., and will return to the east next weekend for a tourney in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Jayhawks aren’t scheduled to open at home until March 22.
When: Today.Where: Softball by the Beach tournament, Santa Barbara, Calif..Opponents: Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Cal Santa Barbara.KU record: 7-1. |