Texas A&M does not appear to be what the doctor ordered for Kansas University’s struggling softball team.
The Aggies have won 32 of 34 games, including 16 in a row. A&M’s team batting average is a lusty .351. Megan Gibson leads the Big 12 Conference in home runs with 13. And pitcher Amanda Scarborough boasts an 18-0 record and a minuscule 0.36 earned-run average.
Kansas, mired in a four-game losing streak, will play host to the No. 6-ranked Aggies at 2 p.m. today and at noon Sunday at Arrocha Ballpark.
The Jayhawks — particularly the pitchers — still are trying to shake off the rust of a long stretch of rainouts a couple of weeks ago. In losing to Nebraska on Wednesday and dropping a Thursday doubleheader at Wichita State, KU’s mound staff surrendered 15 walks, 23 hits and 19 runs in 22 innings.
Meanwhile, the Jayhawks’ team batting average remains a solid .262, but KU’s record has slipped to 15-13 — 0-2 in the Big 12 — as the team ERA has climbed to 2.98.
Shortstop Destiny Frankenstein leads KU in batting average (.352), home runs (7), runs (22), walks (15) and stolen bases (6) and shares the RBI lead with keystone mate Jessica Moppin with 16. Moppin had four hits in the WSU twinbill and boosted her batting average to .309.
The first 300 fans at today’s game will receive a free Jayhawk rally towel.
These preseason tournaments are more than just tune-ups for the Kansas volleyball team. They are must-win matches.
Not because the competition is easy it’s not but because the Big 12 is just so darn tough the Jayhawks need all the wins they can muster before conference play begins.
“We get two weekends to prepare for conference and we need to take advantage of that opportunity,” Kansas coach Ray Bechard said. “The Big 12 starts its conference play earlier than some other schools and we need to get some work in.”
Montana, Portland and Georgia Southern will all take part in the Hampton Inn-Jayhawks Classic today and Saturday.
In the early games Montana will face Portland at 11 a.m. today and the Jayhawks (5-0) will go against Georgia Southern at 1 p.m.
This evening Georgia Southern will square off against Portland at 5 p.m. and Kansas will battle Montana at 7 p.m. All games will be at the Horejsi Center.
The Jayhawks swept Middle Tennessee State, Providence College, Virginia Commonwealth and Charlotte at Charlotte’s tournament a week ago, but they might be a little more fired up for a tournament on their home court.
“You always want to win, but I think you might play a little harder and feel like you have to win when the tournament is at your home,” senior setter Molly LaMere said. “
The Jayhawks, who are 7-3 in their tournament during Bechard’s three years, were 4-0 last year at the Hampton Inn-Jayhawk Classic.
Though the three teams visiting Lawrence this weekend aren’t big-name squads, Bechard isn’t taking them lightly.
“When you schedule these teams in the spring you’re not really sure what kind of team they’ll have in the fall,” he said. “I think Georgia Southern will surprise some people. It’s a very competitive field.”
Senior setter Molly LaMere said she kind of knows what to expect from Portland.
“We played them last year in spring ball,” she said. “We went out to Portland last year for a tournament and saw them. They were good, but they have some new freshmen now and they won’t be the same team, obviously.”
Kansas, which starts two freshmen, is not the same team either.
“We match up well with these teams,” Bechard said. “I think that we should do pretty good.”
