May 10, 2016

Kansas Concludes 2016 Regular Season With Cyclones

Iowa State at Kansas
Date	May 12-14
Location	Lawrence, Kansas
Stadium	Arrocha Ballpark at RCP
Television	Jayhawk Television Network (Sat.)
Radio	Jayhawk Radio Network Online: KUAthletics.com
Notes	Kansas

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas concludes the 2016 regular season with a three-game Big 12 series against Iowa State May 12-14. The Jayhawks kick off the season-finale series on Thursday, May 12, at 5 p.m. All three games can be heard on the Jayhawk Radio Network while Saturday’s game will air on the Jayhawk Television Network.

Around the Diamond
Kansas continues its final homestand of the season with another fun-filled weekend at Arrocha Ballpark. On Thursday, KU will host a food drive in collaboration with Just Food and anyone who brings a non-perishable donation will get admission for $5. Concessions will offer $2 cookies and cream screamers throughout the contest on Thursday. On Friday, KU will celebrate Senior Day and Professor Appreciation Day. All professors with valid ID will receive $5 admission on Friday. Following the game, Kansas will honor the careers of its five seniors. Additionally, the fifth set of Jayhawk trading cards will be available, while supples last. Saturday is Superhero Day at the ballpark and all children in costume will get $3 admission and super hero masks will be given away, while supplies last. Prior to the game, Kansas will host the fun zone and following game children will be allowed to run the bases and get autographs from the Jayhawks. Concessions will offer a hot dog and fruit snacks for $1.50.

Leading Off For Kansas

Kansas concludes the 2016 regular season with a three-game series against Iowa State. The Jayhawks enter the weekend with a 10-game winning streak over the Cyclones and are 21-10 when playing ISU at home.
On Friday following KU’s contest with Iowa State, the Jayhawks will honor and celebrate the careers of Kansas’ five seniors.
The Jayhawks have scored first in 28 of their 48 games in 2016 and own a 22-6 record when putting a run on the scoreboard before their opponent.
Senior shortstop Chaley Brickey claimed her third KU career record at Baylor after registering her 151st run batted in. Earlier this season, she became Kansas’ all-time walks and runs scored leader.
Brickey became the fifth Jayhawk to break Kansas’ all-time RBI record under head coach Megan Smith. Prior to Brickey holding the record, Liz Kocon, Mariah Montgomery, Maggie Hull and Maddie Stein all set a new RBI record under Smith’s guidance.
Kansas set a new attendance record on April 9 at Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park. The crowd of 1,240 marked the largest attendance record and the third of four sellouts since the ballpark opened in 2015.

About the Jayhawks
Kansas softball returned home to Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park following a six-game road swing to host Oklahoma State for a three-game Big 12 Conference series. The Jayhawks went 0-2 over the weekend after dropping the first two games to the Cowgirls. Entering the last weekend of the 2016 regular season, KU has a 28-20 overall record and a 5-9 mark in Big 12 Conference play with three games against Iowa State left.

In two games last weekend, junior second baseman Taylor McElhaney led KU’s offense with four hits and a .800 (4-for-5) batting average. Redshirt sophomore catcher Harli Ridling registered a team-high four RBIs against Oklahoma State, including a RBI single and a three-run home run. Junior Sophia Templin made her first appearance since late February over the weekend and struck out five batters in three and two-thirds innings of relief. On the season, the Jayhawks are batting .283 with senior shortstop Chaley Brickey leading the way in eight offensive categories. Brickey has posted a .387 batting average with 53 hits, including 18 doubles and 10 home runs, 37 walks and 33 RBIs.

In the circle, Kansas has the fourth-lowest ERA in the Big 12 after posting a 2.99 earned run average in 311 innings of work. KU’s pitching staff has struck out 214 batters while allowing 112 walks and 133 earned runs. Sophomore right-hander Andie Formby has a 16-7 record on the rubber with a 2.22 ERA and a team-high 111 strikeouts. She has tossed 14 complete games and nine shutouts.

Scouting the Cyclones
Iowa State heads into the series with a 20-32 overall record and a 1-14 mark in Big 12 Conference action. The Cyclones, who were selected to finish the 2016 league lineup in seventh place, have lost eight of their last 10 games. ISU is coming off of an 0-3 weekend against Texas.

Offensively, the Cyclones are led by senior utility Brittany Gomez in five different statistical categories. Gomez is batting .401 in 52 starts with a Big 12-leading 73 hits, including four doubles and two triples. Senior utility Aly Cappaert leads the squad with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs while sophomore outfielder Kelsey McFarland has recorded a team-best eight doubles. The Cyclones are hitting .283 as a team at the plate with 38 doubles, four triples and 32 home runs. With 385 hits and 130 walks, Iowa State has a .388 slugging percentage and .357 on-base percentage.

Iowa State’s pitching staff has a 5.51 ERA after allowing 262 earned runs in 333 innings of work. Collectively, ISU’s pitching staff has struck out 208 batters while allowing 200 walks. Freshman right-hander Savannah Sanders leads the pitching staff with 109 strikeouts and three shutouts. She has an 8-16 mark in the circle with a 4.87 ERA in 161 innings of work. Freshman Emma Hylen has registered a team-best four saves in 2016.

The Series Breakdown
Kansas enters the weekend having won 12 of the last 13 meetings, including 10-straight victories dating back to 2012. The Jayhawks own a 54-33 advantage in the overall series, which began in 1980. KU is 21-10 when facing the Cyclones at home and hosts Iowa State inside Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park for the first time this season.

Around the League
The Jayhawks are putting up impressive numbers during the 2016 season. Kansas is fourth in the Big 12 Conference in drawing walks with 161, has the second-best fielding percentage (.980) and the fourth-lowest team ERA (2.99). Individually, senior infielder Chaley Brickey leads the Big 12 in walks (37), is second in slugging percentage (.737) and second in on-base percentage (.522). Brickey is also tied for fifth in runs scored (43), is fourth in doubles hit (18) and tied for fifth in home runs (10). Sophomore infielder Daniella Chavez is tied for third in RBIs (48). In the circle, sophomore Andie Formby has posted the fifth-lowest ERA in the league (2.22). She is second in shutouts (nine), is fourth in wins (16) and is fourth in strikeouts (111).

Senior Salute
The 2016 senior class has guided Kansas to an overall record of 143-74 the last four seasons and brought KU back to the postseason with back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances in 2014 and 2015. Infielders Chaley Brickey and Kylee Kennedy are wrapping up four years in the Crimson and Blue while outfielder Shannon McGinley transferred in after her freshman season at Virginia and outfielder Briana Evans and pitcher Monique Wesley joined the Jayhawks after their sophomore seasons.

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