PAGE 4B
BASEBALL WEATHER
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013
The Jayhawks congratulate each other after a 8-0 win over the Baker Wildcats. The Jayhawks are now 27-18 overall and remain 9-9 in the Big XII.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Baylor visits Lawrence for Big 12 matchup
TREVOR GRAFF
tgraff@kansan.com
The Jayhawks enter their series with the Baylor Bears this weekend at Hoglund Ballpark with just six games remaining in the 2013 Big 12 schedule.
The Bears enter the weekend with a 25-20 record in sole possession of second place with their 11-6 record. The Bears' three-game winning streak can be credited in large part to their
play defense, very similar to us, that wins them games."
starting pitching rotation that carries a 3.38 ERA into the series.
"Every game was a one run loss. We pitched great and played great defense, but we just have to put it behind us."
Coach Price said solid pitching on the Jayhawks part is key to a Kansas series victory against Baylor. The Kansas pitching staff has been rock solid of late giving up only five runs in the last five
games.
THOMAS TAYLOR Kansas pitcher
"Their pitching has been fabulous," coach Ritch Price said. "They've been winning low scoring games; so really for them it's starting pitching and the way they
"Their playing great of late as well," senior right-handed pitcher Thomas Taylor said. "We have to go out and get after them and put ourselves back in position to get back to playing
get back to their normal level in the Baylor series.
well and to a regional."
The Kansas weekend pitching rotation suffered through a tough series of one-run losses in their meetings against the West Virginia Mountaineers last weekend. The rotation is trying to refocus and
"That was a really tough series loss," Taylor said. "Every game was a one run loss. We pitched great and played great defense, but we just have to put it behind us."
The Baylor lineup focuses on small ball tactics much like the Jayhawks this season. As a team the Bears are batting .268 on the season. With just two hitters operating at averages above .300.
The Kansas weather won't give up on the Jayhawks. With 10 games either rescheduled or cancelled already this season, the Jayhawks face another tough weekend with winter weather forecasted in May. The dreary weather doesn't change much for the Jayhawks.
"One thing this team has done is they've grinded every week," Coach Ritch Price said. "They like each other. There's really good team chemistry there. They like playing in Hogland Ballpark, and I'm actually glad to see the weather forecast that it's going to be cold, weary and damp. The Texas kids don't like that too much."
The layhawks aren't afraid of the bad weather. They've played in it all season. In fact, Kansas players are relishing the thought of playing in the elements.
"It's going to be a tough series," DeLeon said. "It's supposed to be really cold here which is actually an advantage to us. We're used to playing in the cold, and they're from Texas so it's actually probably an advantage for us."
With the weather on their side and the weekend rotation intact, the Jayhawks start their climb back up the Big 12 ladder Friday at 6 p.m., in Hoglund Ballpark. The Jayhawks' Thomas Taylor will face the Baylor Bears' Friday starter Max Garner.
Edited by Tyler Conover
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Senior third baseman Jordan Dreiling runs to third after a Connor McKay double.
Dreiling finished 1 for 3 with a run scored.
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
Freshman infofelder Chaley Brickey dives for home plate during the softball game against the UMKC Roos. Kansas defeated the Roos 4-0.
SAFE
Jayhawks play No.1 Sooners in weekend series at Arrocha
JOSEPH DAUGHERTY
jdaugherty@kansan.com
The Jayhawk softball team to take on the No.1 in the nation Oklahoma Sooners in a three game series that has been pushed to a Saturday double-header and game on Sunday due to expected inclement weather.
In what has become a recurring theme this season for the Jayhawks, Mother Nature once again has changed the team's schedule. Wednesday's game against in-state rival Wichita State was canceled due to weather and this weekend's series games had to be changed to just two days instead of a full weekend series.
Kansas (30-15, 5-7) will go into the series against the Sooners (43-3, 11-1), with the Jayhawks leading the Big 12 for the 12th straight week
in batting average, hitting at .344. Freshman Alex Hugo has hit three home runs in the last five games and also holds the freshman home run record of 14 runs, while senior left fielder Maggie Hull sits tied for the Kansas career RBI crown. One more RBI will break the record of 135, currently held by former Jayhawk and current softball color analyst Liz Kocon. Hull continues to sit atop the Big 12 in batting average, hitting .451 on the season, and is on pace to break her own University record of hitting .409 for a season.
The Sooners (43-3, 11-1) lead the NCAA in ERA at 1.14 as a team, while only letting opponents hit .161. They are also second in the Big 12, with a batting average of .338. The Sooners also have four hitters in the top 10 of batting average in the Big 12, and have the top
two pitchers in ERA. The Sooners are coming off losing in to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the NCAA championship last season. The Sooners' potent offense and great pitching will pose a tough challenge for the Jayhawks. The Sooners have won five straight games and have only one conference loss to Texas.
The Jayhawks will try to score another upset against a top-25 team this weekend, but will have their work cut out for them against the top-ranked Sooners. This weekend's series will be a classic matchup between the Jayhawks' top-hitting team and the Sooners' dominant pitching. The first game of the series is Saturday at 2 p.m. at Arrocha Ballpark.
Edited by Elise Reuter