Kansas Softball Breaks into National Polls

ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 // NFCA/USA Today Poll

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas softball set a new program record reaching 12-straight wins to start the 2015 season and after a 4-1 performance on the diamond over the weekend, the Jayhawks broke into the national polls for the first time since 2011.
 
At 14-1 on the season, KU earned a No. 25 ranking in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Poll and is receiving 26 votes, good for No. 26, in the NFCA/USA Today Poll. Last week, Kansas received votes in both major softball polls.
 
The Jayhawks’ winning streak was temporarily halted by No. 1 Florida, who gave Kansas its lone loss on the season. KU bounced back with wins over Mercer and Illinois State to conclude its third weekend of play. During the season-opening win streak, the Jayhawks recorded quality wins against programs like Arkansas, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Tech, New Mexico State and Penn State, among others. 
 
On the year, Kansas is batting .342, the second-best average in the Big 12 conference, with 45 extra base hits, including 13 home runs. The Jayhawks’ pitching staff has posted a 2.98 ERA, the third-lowest ERA in the league, with five shutouts and 77 strikeouts.
 
The Jayhawks return to Florida this weekend for another tournament at North Florida in Jacksonville. Kansas will face Stony Brook, South Dakota, Siena and the tournament-host Ospreys in five games over three days at the UNF Softball Complex (Feb. 27-March 1). 

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