Softball to Open Big 12 Play at No. 4 Texas

March 24, 2005

AUSTIN, Texas –

Despite seven straight rain outs, Kansas softball (15-9) hopes for more pleasant weather in Austin, Texas, this weekend as it opens Big 12 Conference play at No. 4 Texas Friday (6:30 p.m.) and Saturday (1 p.m.).

The games can be followed via Gametracker by logging on to the Softball Schedule/Results page.

About Kansas

The Jayhawks are 15-9 overall after a 1-1 showing at the Capital Classic in Sacramento, Calif. KU fell to Minnesota, 2-1, and defeated Rhode Island, 8-0, Friday in the Classic before rains cancelled the rest of the tournament.

The KU defense remains solid behind junior infielders Destiny Frankenstein, Nettie Fierros and Jessica Moppin, and ranks fourth in the Big 12 with a .972 fielding percentage. Frankenstein leads the KU offense with 26 hits and six home runs for a .400 batting average.

Junior Ashley Goodrich has been a leader as of late and is hitting at a .355 clip after starting six games as the designated hitter. Rounding out the .300 hitters is junior Nettie Fierros, who hit two doubles against Rhode Island and is batting .305 on the season.

About Texas

The No. 4 Longhorns (25-4) lost to No. 1 Michigan, 7-0, on Sunday, but rebounded with a two wins over North Texas Wednesday.

Olympic gold medalist Cat Osterman (12-2) leads a UT pitching staff of five with a league-best 0.27 ERA and 231 strikeouts in 105.0 innings of work. Freshman Meagan Denny (5-0) and senior Amy Bradford (7-1) have also combined for more than 80 innings and under a 0.63 ERA.

Junior Chez Sievers leads the offense with a .412 batting average in 17 starts while freshmen Desiree Williams (.320) and MicKayla Padilla (.302) have combined for 37 hits in their rookie seasons. UT leads the league with a 0.48 ERA but ranks ninth in team offense with a .253 batting average.