Kansas Softball Has Final Tune Up Before Big 12 Conference Play

March 16, 2011

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

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Kansas softball will participate in its sixth and final pre-conference tournament when it takes part in the Coastal Carolina Chanticleer Classic this weekend, March 18-20 in Conway, S.C. The Jayhawks are off to their best start in program history with a 21-3 overall record and are riding a five-game winning streak. KU will face 2010 NCAA Tournament teams Lipscomb (7-8) and Georgia Tech (17-4) in the three-day tournament, along with Providence College (5-10) and Coastal Carolina (14-6).

Kansas is coming off a 4-0 weekend at the UNF Tournament to claim its fourth tourney title this season. Sophomore Alex Jones collected eight hits over the weekend and is riding a six-game hitting streak as she paces the Jayhawks with a .386 batting average. Her 32 hits rank eighth in the Big 12 Conference, while her 11 stolen bases tie for sixth. Five other starters are hitting .338 or better, including senior Brittany Hile (.371), whose nine home runs are tied for fifth in the league and her team-high 28 RBIs rank eighth.

Senior Allie Clark and freshman Kristin Martinez have emerged as KU’s top threats from the pitching circle. Martinez owns a 1.81 ERA and leads the team with 36 strikeouts and 65.2 innings of work. Clark (2.86) owns three shutouts and has not allowed a run in her last three outings.