Jayhawks travel to Texas Tech for Big 12 Series

Games 37-39
 

Date April 7-9, 2017
Location Lubbock, Texas
Notes Game Notes

LIVE COVERAGE
Audio Audio Stream
Stats Live Stats
 LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas softball heads to the Lonestar State for a three-game series against Texas Tech. The series begins on Friday, April 7 at 6 p.m., at Rocky Johnson Field. All three games will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network.     

Leading off for Kansas

  • Kansas and Texas Tech meet for the 56th time in program history on Friday. KU swept the 2016 series in Lawrence and has won four of the last five games against the Lady Raiders.
  • 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. 
  • The Jayhawks’ last three victories came in walk-off fashion, including a pair of walk-off home runs. Freshman Madison Sykes hit a long ball to end the game against Southeast Missouri State (3/19), while junior Erin McGinley hit a homer to end the game against the Lady Bears (3/25). 
  • Kansas has scored first in 18 of its 36 games in 2017. The Jayhawks have a 12-6 record when putting a run on the scoreboard before their opponent. 
  • Junior infielder Jessie Roane is second in the Big 12 Conference in doubles hit with 12, which also ranks 17th in the country. 

About the Jayhawks
Kansas continues Big 12 Conference action on the road for the second weekend in a row. The Jayhawks are 19-17 on the season with an 1-5 mark in conference play. KU swept the 2016 series against the Lady Raiders in Lawrence and have won four of the last five meetings.  

Kansas’ offense is batting .284 in 2017 with 267 hits, including the second-most home runs (29) in the Big 12, and 93 walks. Six Jayhawks are hitting above .300 after 36 games. Junior utility Jessie Roane is batting .350 with five home runs, 12 doubles and 30 RBIs. Senior infielder Taylor Dodson leads the squad with six home runs and has driven in 16 RBIs in 29 starts. 

The Jayhawks’ pitching staff has posted the fourth-best ERA in the conference with a 2.69 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 11-10 on the season with 86 strikeouts and a 2.28 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 10 starts in the circle and owns a 3-4 record. She has a 3.50 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 44 innings of work.

Scouting the Lady Raiders
Texas Tech will face Abilene Christian in a midweek contest before Kansas comes to town for a three-game conference series. The Lady Raiders are 16-17 on the season and are 3-3 Big 12 Conference play. TTU opened its league slate with a series sweep over Iowa State before losing three-straight games to Baylor.

Offensively, the Lady Raiders are batting .263 with 226 hits, including a Big 12-leading 31 home runs, and 106 walks. Three players on TTU’s roster are hitting above .300. Senior utility Devon Thomey is hitting a team-high .330 in 29 starts with 29 hits and 17 RBIs. Sophomore infielder Jessica Hartwell leads the team with in hits (33) and doubles (10), while hitting .308 at the plate. 

In the circle, Texas Tech has posted a 4.30 ERA with 88 strikeouts compared to 111 walks in 218 and one-thirds innings of work. Opposing batters are hitting .281 against the Lady Raiders’ pitching staff. Freshman right-hander Kassidy Scott leads the pitching staff with 16 starts. She has posted a 3.22 ERA and struck out a team-high 43 batters in 111 innings of work. Scott owns an 8-10 mark in the circle.  

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.

Around the Nation
After a strong start to the 2017 campaign, Kansas ranks among the top of several national statistics. KU’s .973 fielding percentage is 26th in the nation. The Jayhawks have the 67th-best ERA in the country after Kansas’ pitching staff has posted a 2.69 ERA. Junior infielder Jessie Roane is 17th in the nation in doubles hit with 12. 

Home Run Fun
In 36 games of the season, eight different Jayhawks have accounted for 29 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. Dodson leads the team with six long balls in 2017.

Up Next
The Jayhawks take a break from Big 12 Conference play to host Wichita State in a midweek matchup on Tuesday, April 11. The nonconference game is slated for a 6 p.m. first pitch on the Jayhawk Radio Network.

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