Game times subject to change.
Most schedules have such a disclaimer, but no one has taken advantage quite like Kansas University’s baseball team this season.
The Jayhawks will start a three-game set with Baylor today at Hoglund Ballpark, but that tentative time on your pocket schedule won’t help. Due to the cold weather that just won’t go away, today’s game was moved up to 4 p.m. and Saturday’s to 1 p.m. to take advantage of the daylight’s heat.
Sunday’s game stays at 1 p.m.
The Jayhawks’ schedule has changed on the fly multiple times this season. The home opener with South Dakota State was rescheduled about a half-dozen times before being moved two states away to Minneapolis’ Metrodome in February.
Last week’s series with Texas had adjusted game times because of cold weather, and it’s happening again this weekend.
This three-game set has the potential to be a big series for the direction of the Jayhawks this season. Kansas (18-20 overall, 4-8 Big 12 Conference play) has played four conference series and lost two of three in each one, with the rubber match being the difference every single weekend.
Baylor (19-16, 4-8) has had a different journey to the exact same league record. The Bears actually won series with Texas Tech and Oklahoma, but then negated it by being swept by Texas and Oklahoma State.
The Bears will throw three right-handers this weekend, while Kansas counters with three lefties. Nick Czyz (2-5, 4.41 ERA) will start today for the Jayhawks, with Zach Ashwood (3-3, 6.08) going Saturday and Andy Marks (3-3, 6.98) on Sunday.
Baylor counters with Jeff Mandel (4-5, 4.32) today, Randal Linebaugh (2-4, 4.65) on Saturday and Kendal Volz (4-1, 5.35) on Sunday.
With Baylor and Kansas bringing up the rear in the Big 12 race, the winner of this series is right back in the thick of things for a Big 12 tournament berth. Eight of the 10 teams in the league will be invited to the May 23-27 tournament in Oklahoma City.
As for the loser? They stay stuck in the caboose, needing to climb even more frantically the rest of the way.