Kansas University’s baseball team returns to conference play this weekend as its travels to Lubbock, Texas, to battle Texas Tech in a three-game Big 12 series at Dan Law Field.
The Jayhawks enter the series having been on the short side of the outcome in their last five contests. Kansas is 24-19 overall and a 3-9 in league play.
Junior outfielder Gus Milner has been one of KU’s most consistent hitters this season, boasting a .336 batting average with 34 RBIs and a team-high eight home runs this season. The Olathe native has five home runs and 14 RBIs in his last nine games.
Fellow outfielder A.J. Van Slyke also has been impressive at the plate, leading the team in RBIs with 38.
Kodiak Quick will take the mound today for the Jayhawks. He entered the week tied for the league lead in wins with eight.
Freshman Tyson Corley will make the first start of his career in Saturday’s game. So far this season, Corley has compiled an 0-0 record and a 5.02 ERA in nine appearances.
Senior Mike Zagurski moves from starting Friday night to starting Sunday this weekend as Kansas shakes up its rotation.
Texas Tech enters the series in sixth place in the Big 12 with a 6-8 league record and a 24-13 overall mark.
OKLAHOMA CITY ? Somewhere out there in NCAA limbo land is Kansas University’s softball team.
Consequently, how the Jayhawks (31-25) perform in the Big 12 Tournament may determine whether they’re selected for postseason play.
“I think we’ve been noticed by the NCAA,” KU coach Tracy Bunge said. “But I think we have to win one game (in the Big 12 meet), and two would be very helpful.”
Kansas, seeded No. 4, will meet No. 5 seed Oklahoma State (25-21) at 11 a.m. today at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.
If the Jayhawks win, they’ll advance to a 5 p.m. winners bracket contest. If they lose, they’ll play an elimination game at 3:30 p.m.
Kansas opened its conference season against the Cowgirls way back in mid-March in Stillwater, Okla., bowing 1-0 and 2-1. In that two-game set, KU couldn’t solve the southpaw slants of OSU soph Lauren Bay.
In the first game, Bay tossed a one-hit shutout. In the second game, she threw five shutout relief innings to earn the win. In 12 innings, Kansas managed just four hits off Bay, a native of British Columbia.
“Lauren threw extremely well,” Bunge said. “I watched the video and she didn’t make many mistakes over the plate.”
Bay hasn’t made many mistakes since. Although her record is only 13-10, her 1.32 earned run average ranks among the league leaders.
Bunge will use Kara Pierce (21-10, 1.89 ERA) on the mound against the Cowgirls. Pierce, named Big 12 freshman of the year on Wednesday, was the hard-luck loser in both the defeats in Stillwater.
Quite likely, Shelly Musser will be able to play against O-State, but the Jayhawks’ ailing centerfielder will be a question mark for today’s afternoon game.
Musser has been plagued by an upper back injury for the last month.
“Shelly has a high pain threshold,” Bunge said.
“Every time she plays she’s in pain, and I’m worried about her being able to play in the second game.”
All of KU’s players are undergoing the strain of final examinations.
A half-dozen took exams, for example, on Wednesday night at the team hotel. They were administered by a member of KU’s academic support staff.
“It’s a tough time for student-athletes,” Bunge said. “I’m hoping, though, they’ll be able to clear their minds for the tournament games.”
Kansas will learn its NCAA fate on Sunday evening.
Notes: KU players lead the Big 12 in all three extra-base categories Katie Campbell in doubles (15), Shelly Musser in triples (5) and Leah Tabb in home runs (12). KU has four players hitting over .300 Courtney Wright (.315), Erin Garvey (.310), Shelly Musser (.309) and Megan Urquhart (.308). KU’s 25 home runs are a school single-season record. The Jayhawks are 7-12 in one-run games.
