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KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016
Paige Stingley/KANSAN
Paige Stingley/KANSAN Freshman catcher Jessie Roane takes a swing at a pitch during Sunday afternoon's game against Texas Tech.
KU heads to Baylor to fight for second place in Big 12
BRIAN MINI
@brianminimum
Although it's early in the Big 12 conference season, it looks like the Jayhawks are flipping the script from last year. In 2015, a strong non-conference season propelled the Jayhawks into the postseason, but it looks like this year's team has saved the best for last.
When Kansas played Baylor last year, the team had just five wins through four series. In only two three-game series this season, Kansas has already picked up four wins, including a sweep of Texas Tech, who came into the series at 4-2 in conference play.
Depending on how this year's series against Baylor goes, Kansas could find itself in second place in the Big 12 by next week.
Baylor's offense ranks second in the Big 12 in batting average and first in runs. Kansas ranks fourth in both categories, although it's played seven less games than Baylor.
Baylor's offense has also shown its base running ability with 62 stolen bases, while Kansas has only attempted 14 this season.
Baylor senior infielder Sarah Smith is a big reason for its high scoring offense. Through 47 games, she's batting .410 and is tied for the team lead with 39 RBI's.
As a whole, Baylors offense doesn't strike out much — 140 times this season — which could prove difficult for Kansas sophomore pitcher Andie Formby, who will get the majority of innings this weekend.
In terms of pitching, Baylor has two shutdown pitches in senior Heather Stearns and sophomore Kendall Potts. They both have ERAs under 2.00 and,
like Formby, can strike out plenty of batters.
For Kansas, the aforementioned Formby has her own impressive statistics. Formby's ERA currently sits at 1.79 and holds opposing batters to a .227 batting average.
"We can take a deep breath and relax, knowing that she isn't going to give up many runs," sophomore catcher Harli Ridling said about Formby after her shutout over the weekend against Texas Tech.
Offensively, Kansas' senior shortstop Chaley Brickey is having a career year. Her .398 batting average leads the team, and her nine home runs tie her for the team lead.
"Being in the leadoff spot for as much as she has been and to get the number of RBIs that she does is a testimate to the bottom half of our order," Kansas coach Megan Smith said after Brickey's four RBI day against Texas Tech.
Kansas has the blueprint to beat Baylor, as evidenced by the Oklahoma series.
While Kansas managed to go 1-2 against a dominant Oklahoma team, Baylor was swept in Waco. The difference? Kansas kept every game close with runs on the board while Baylor scored just four runs in three games.
Kansas' pitching was able to hold Texas Tech to three runs in their last series, and it will need to find a way to stifle a much more potent offense this week.
The series against Baylor will start at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Waco.
- Edited by Madi Schulz
Junior catcher Michael Tinsley hits the ball against Wichita State. Kansas beat Wichita State on Tuesday night at Hoglund Ballpark.
Missu Minear/KANSAN
Michael Tinsley continues to anchor surging Kansas offense
WESLEY DOTSON
@WesleyDee23
The offense for Kansas baseball was on full display in Tuesday's midweek game against Wichita State.
The team has recently found consistent offensive production and showcased that in the 9-3 win against a Wichita State team that ranks last in the Missouri Valley Conference in pitching.
A large part of that recent upswing in offense is junior catcher Michael Tinsley.
Against Wichita State, Tinsley extended his season-long hitting streak to 11 games, as he blasted a two-run homer to right in the third inning. It was his first home run of the season.
As a team, the Jayhawks have scored 28 runs in their last four games against Division I competition. Tinsley has played a significant role in that production, with nine hits and four RBIs in the same stretch.
"He's unbelievable," Kansas coach Ritch Price said. "He'd dialed in."
After the game, Tinsley said it felt great to finally get that blast out of the way.
"A running joke between me and [senior outfielder] Joe Moroney is that he has more home runs than me," Tinsley said. "Now we're tied, so now we can just kind of joke about who is going to hit the next one."
He extended the hitting streak to 12 games on Wednesday, with two hits against Baker, an NAIA school.
In his last 11 games, Tinsley is hitting better than .500 with five doubles and seven RBIs.
"My approach feels better," he said. "Throughout the season, I've just kind of been adjusting my approach a little bit more. Right now I just feel that my approach is solid."
Tinsley has been a model of consistency in his three seasons at Kansas, which has been especially important this year.
"Throughout the season, I've just kind of been adjusting my approach a little bit more. Right now I just feel that my approach is solid."
Michael Tinsley junior catcher
At times, the team's offense has struggled with some of the other players failing to find that consistency, including key players like sophomore shortstop Matt McLaughlin and senior second baseman Colby Wright.
However, while others have struggled at times, a hitter to keep a tab on for the rest of the season is
freshman outfielder Devin Foyle. He had five hits and seven RBIs over the weekend against Texas in a three-game span.
Foyle followed up that performance against Wichita State with an RBI-single. He then had two more hits against Baker and now has 22 RBIs on the season, second on the team behind Tinsley.
"The guy is probably the most on-fire I've ever seen anybody," Tinsley said. "It's amazing to see a switch-hitting freshman come in and just tear it up as he has. He's both a great kid and a great hitter, and I couldn't be happier for him."
While hitters like Foyle are making their presence felt, Kansas will need Tinsley to continue to anchor the lineup when traveling to Samford for a three-game set this weekend in a non-conference tilt.
The first game in that series will be Friday, April 22, at 6 p.m.
Miller and Campbell earn Big 12 honors
ERIK NELSON
@erikthefan
Miller was named Big 12 Swimmer of the Year, while Campbell was named Big 12 Coach of the Year. Miller is the first swimmer from Kansas to receive this honor.
Kansas senior Chelsie Miller and coach Clark Campbell were honored by the Big 12 yesterday after the completion of the 2015- 16 season.
Campbell, on the other hand, earned Big 12 Coach of the Year honors for the second time in his career. He last won the award in 2014.
This year with Campbell at the helm, the team's record was 9-4, losing only part of one meet at home in Robinson Natatorium:
a January 23 split against
denver and Missouri State.
Miller owns six school records, more than any other Kansas swimmer, and will represent Kansas at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.
"It's an incredible honor. These awards are generated by people noticing what's been done in the program, and Chelsie has had a storied career in swimming," Campbell said in a KU Athletics release. "She's one of the best that we've ever had, and for her to be recognized by the conference for all of her accomplishments through the years is special."
She will compete in the 200- and 400-meter individual medleys, the 200-meter butterfly and the 800-meter freestyle.
If Miller does well, she
"It means so much to get Kansas the recognition," Miller said in the release. "I wouldn't be anywhere without the program, the coaches and especially the team. To have my name attached to Kansas is special in itself."
may have the opportunity to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, with the likes of California-Berkeley's Missy Franklin.
Campbell echoed a similar message with regard to his own award.
"It's simply a reflection of the program," Campbell said in the release. "The award happens to go to the coach, but it would never happen if you didn't have everyone around you and yourself performing at a high level on a daily basis."
Senior Chelsie Miller races against Missouri State and Denver University Saturday afternoon in Lawrence. Missy Minear/KANSAN
Missy Minear/KANSAN
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