KU Softball Announces 2005 Schedule
Sept. 28, 2004
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Six early-season tournaments and at least 12 games at Arrocha Ballpark highlight the 2005 University of Kansas softball schedule, head coach Tracy Bunge announced Thursday. The Jayhawks will open their season Feb. 4 at the Arizona Pepsi Classic in Tucson, Ariz., and begin post-season action May 11 at the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City, Okla.
After the season-opening Pepsi Classic, KU will travel to Las Cruces, N.M., for the New Mexico State Invitational Feb. 11-13. The Jayhawks will then wrap up the month of February (25-27) at the Palm Springs Classic in Palm Springs, Calif.
KU will once again compete in the Southern Illinois Tournament March 5-6 and follow up with is home-opening Jayhawk Classic March 11-13 in Lawrence. The Jayhawks will wrap up tournament play at the Sacramento State Tournament (Sacramento, Calif.) March 18-20.
Big 12 foe Nebraska will visit Arrocha Ballpark on March 30 and Border Showdown rival Missouri will come to Lawrence May 4. Also scheduled to visit are league opponents Texas A&M (April 2-3), Baylor (April 16-17) and Oklahoma (April 23-24) — all nationally ranked last season.
The Jayhawks will travel for four Big 12 series — Texas (March 25-26), Oklahoma State (April 9-10), Texas Tech (April 30-May 1) and Iowa State (May 7-8).
In addition to another Big 12 Conference schedule, KU will face three non-conference foes at home (Indiana State, UMKC, Arkansas) and three on the road (Wichita State, Creighton, SMS).
“This is a nice schedule for us that features some tough and evenly-matched competition,” Bunge said. “We will face some top-25 non-conference teams in Arizona and Hawaii at the tournament in Tucson, as well as Cal and Washington in Palm Springs. It will be a good test for us early on that can help us prepare for another tough season of Big 12 play.”
“This will be an exciting brand of Kansas softball,” Bunge added. “I am impressed with the return and improvement of pitcher Serena Settlemier, who will add to the talent of Kassie Humphreys and freshman lefty Christina Ross. Our pitching staff will be the key to winning in 2005.”
Kansas returns 10 letterwinners and welcomes five newcomers to the squad this season. In 2004, the Jayhawks finished 33-28-1 overall including a 2-2 run in the Big 12 Tournament.
The Jayhawks open Fall Ball Saturday and Sunday as they host the 2004 Jayhawk Fall Classic at Arrocha Ballpark.
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