Kansas concludes home slate with Texas

Games 48-50
 

Date April 28-30, 2017
Location Lawrence, Kan.
Notes Game Notes

LIVE COVERAGE
Audio Audio Stream
Stats Live Stats
 LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas softball concludes its 2017 home slate with a three-game series against Texas April 28-30 at Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park. The series will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network, while Friday’s game will be on FCS and Saturday’s matchup on  the Jayhawk Television Network/ESPN3. 

Leading off for Kansas

  • Kansas and Texas meet for the 47th time in program history on the diamond this weekend. 
  • With its victory over then-No. 14 Baylor (3/25), Kansas’ streak increased to eight-straight seasons with a win over a nationally-ranked opponent. 
  • After defeating Nevada twice in a three-game series (April 21-23), Kansas won its second series of 2017.
  • Kansas has scored first in 23 of its 46 games in 2017. The Jayhawks have a 15-8 record when putting a run on the scoreboard before their opponent. 

About the Jayhawks
Kansas enters its final home series with a 24-23 overall record and a 3-9 mark in Big 12 Conference action. KU’s series with Texas concludes a six-game home stand and Kansas enters the weekend with a 8-9 mark at home this season. Following Saturday’s game the Jayhawks will honor their four-member senior class. 

Kansas’ offense is batting .288 in 2017 with 358 hits, the second-most home runs (38) in the Big 12, and 126 walks. Six Jayhawks are hitting above .300 after 47 games. Junior outfielder Erin McGinley is batting .342 to lead KU’s offense, while sophomore outfielder Emily Bermel is second with a .339 clip. McGinley leads the team with 53 hits, including nine doubles and five home runs. Junior infielder Jessie Roane leads the squad with 38 RBIs, while junior catcher Harli Ridling has hit the most home runs this season with 11.

The Jayhawks’ pitching staff has posted the fourth-best ERA in the conference with a 3.46 ERA. After a win over No. 14 Baylor (3/25), sophomore Alexis Reid has defeated at least one nationally-ranked opponent in each of her seasons with the Jayhawks. Reid is 14-16 on the season with 107 strikeouts and a 3.29 ERA. She struck out eight batters in the series finale against Oklahoma State (4/1), marking the second time this season to record eight strikeouts. Junior Sarah Miller has made 11 starts in the circle and owns a 4-4 record. She has a 3.32 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 57 innings of work.

Scouting the Longhorns
Texas enters the weekend series looking to bounce back from a series loss against Iowa State, but has won five of its last seven games. The Longhorns are 25-20 on the season and 4-8 in Big 12 Conference action. 

Offensively, the Longhorns are batting .284 with 352 hits and 148 walks. Four players on Texas’ roster are hitting above .300. Freshman infielder Taylor Ellsworth is hitting a team-high .438 in 27 starts and 30 appearances with 39 hits and tied for the most RBIs on the squad (21). Senior infielder Devon Tunning leads the team in hits (49), doubles (10), home runs (5) and walks (21).

In the circle, Texas has posted a 2.24 ERA, third lowest in the Big 12, with 246 strikeouts compared to 154 walks in 313 innings of work. Opposing batters are hitting .226 against the Longhorns’ pitching staff. Redshirt sophomore pitcher Erica Wright leads the team with 73 strikeouts, while posting a 2.07 ERA and 4-5 record. Senior Tiarra Davis leads the pitching staff with 15 starts and six complete games. She has posted a 2.28 ERA with a 6-8 record and 65 strikeouts. 

Following Kansas
Listen to every pitch, home and away, all season long as part of the Jayhawk Radio Network, in partnership with KJHK, the University of Kansas’ student radio station, KLWN and KWOD. All of KU’s contests will be carried live, for free, at KUAthletics.com/radio or by clicking the link on the online schedule. Fans can also get in-game updates via twitter by following @KUsoftball.

The Jayhawk Way
From the moment a student-athlete steps on campus, Kansas head softball coach Megan Smith and her staff begin the process of instilling the Jayhawk Way into their team. The philosophy guides the Jayhawks in competing on the diamond, in the classroom and being a part of the community. There are several core values that the Jayhawks learn to live by while playing at Kansas: family, academics, character and hard work.

Home Run Fun
In 47 games of the season, nine different Jayhawks have accounted for 38 home runs for Kansas. Three of those Jayhawks hit multiple long balls during the opening weekend of the 2017 season, including senior infielder Taylor Dodson’s four homers. Junior utility Jessie Roane hit three long balls in one game against Savannah State (2/11), including two in one inning. Junior catcher Harli Ridling leads the team with 11 long balls in 2017.

Walk it Out
One of head coach Megan Smith’s most diverse hitters, senior outfielder Lily Behrmann, can do it all at the plate. She can hit for power or lay down the perfect bunt, but her biggest strength at the plate is her patience. The Overland Park, Kansas native leads the team with 32 walks so far this season and has 111 to her name since joining the Jayhawks in 2014. Behrmann needs 35 more walks to claim KU’s all-time walk record. The current record for career walks is 145 held by Chaley Brickey (2013-16). 

Up Next
The Jayhawks conclude the 2017 regular season at Iowa State May 5-7 at the Cyclone Sports Complex. The series begins on Friday, May 5 at 5 p.m., on the Jayhawk Radio Network. 

KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.