Softball Prepares for Drake in Final Non-Conference Games

May 4, 2010

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Game Notes in PDF Format Get Acrobat Reader

For its final non-conference games of the year, the University of Kansas softball team (19-31) will travel to Drake on Wednesday, May 5 for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. at Buel Field.

Live stats for both games will be available via Gametracker on the KU Athletics website at www.KUAthletics.com/softball.

About Kansas

The Jayhawks suffered a pair of setbacks last weekend at then-No. 12/10 Oklahoma to bring a 19-32 overall mark into Wednesday’s doubleheader. Freshman Rosie Hull leads the team with a .362 batting average on the season but freshman Mariah Montgomery has paced the team with a .452 average over the last 10 games. Her 24 RBIs are one behind team-leader Brittany Hile. In the pitcher’s circle, junior Allie Clark is the most tenured hurler this season with just over 130 innings of work. She owns a team-best 3.96 ERA and eight wins.

Scouting Drake

Drake has dropped three of its last four contests for a 30-18 overall record, including 6-7 in home games. Currently fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference standings, the Bulldogs’ offense is led by Erin Mollohan’s .314 batting average. Elena Leon has recorded a team-high 10 home runs and 23 RBIs and also leads the MVC with 19 stolen bases. The Bulldogs’ bullpen leads the MVC with a 1.73 ERA. Jenna DeLong owns a league-best 1.57 ERA for Drake and has a 15-10 record.

In his eighth season at Drake, head coach Rich Calvert is 210-209 overall.

Series Info

Kansas and Drake have met just four times on the softball diamond with the Jayhawks winning three of those contests. The teams last met in 2009 in Lawrence, a 7-1 Drake victory. KU defeated the Bulldogs in 1994, 1996 and 2007. Wednesday, KU and Drake will play in Des Moines for the first time in series history.

Up Next

Kansas returns home to Arrocha Ballpark this weekend, May 8-9, for its regular-season conference finale. The Jayhawks host Iowa State Saturday at noon before wrapping up the series Sunday at noon. The weekend will mark the final home games for Kansas seniors Alicia Irwin, Amanda Jobe, Sara Ramirez, Ally Stanton and Sarah Vertelka.