Jayhawks Return Home To Face Lobos in Midweek Action

LAWRENCE, Kan. – After an eight-game road swing, the Kansas baseball team returns to Hoglund Ballpark for a 10-game homestand, starting with a two-game midweek set with New Mexico, April 7-8.
 
The Jayhawks (11-20, 1-5 Big 12) return to Lawrence after facing Missouri State, Texas Tech, Wichita State and most recently, Oklahoma on the road. KU went 2-8 on the road trip, winning the series opener in Lubbock, Texas, over the Red Raiders, 7-4 and an 11-inning thriller over in-state rival Wichita State, 13-12.
 
Last season, Kansas and New Mexico faced off for the first time in the history of the two programs, a similar two-game midweek series in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The series went the way of the Lobos, as they won both contests, 6-3 and 10-4.
 
New Mexico has won three-straight Mountain West Conference (MWC) baseball regular season championships and are currently sitting at 8-7 in the MWC and 16-13 overall.
 
Brandon Johnson (0-1) will make his first collegiate start on the mound Tuesday for the Jayhawks. Johnson has appeared in five games and is sporting a 6.00 ERA through three innings pitched.
 
Sean Rackoski will make the start on Wednesday, his seventh of the season. Rackoski holds a 6.88 ERA through 34 innings. The righty has struck out 19 batters and walked 13 in his 11 appearances.
 
Freshman Matt McLaughlin is coming off his first-career conference honor, as he was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on April 6. McLaughlin tallied seven hits in 18 at bats last week, including three doubles, four RBIs and three runs scored for a .389 batting average. The rookie also drew three walks to round out a .476 on-base percentage in the four games last week.
 
New Mexico is coming off a series loss at San Diego State, where they went 1-2. The Lobos are batting .275 with 58 doubles and 12 homers this season. The pitching staff has combined for a 4.48 ERA striking out 151 batters and walking 107. Opponents are batting .271 against the MWC foe and have hit 21 home runs.
 
The Lobos will send sophomore lefty Carson Schneider (2-1) to the mound to start game one against the Jayhawks. Schneider has tossed 25 and one-third innings, giving up 12 earned runs for a 4.26 ERA.
 
Both games of the midweek series can be watched live on ESPN3 through  WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the Watch ESPN app, through ESPN on Xbox Live to Gold Members and on Apple TV, with Steven Davis and former Kansas baseball player Scott Heitshusen calling the action.
 
In addition to the television broadcast, the two games can be heard on the Jayhawk Radio Network through KUAthletics.com/Radio or on the official Kansas Jayhawks mobile app with Shane Jackson and recent KU baseball alum Ka’iana Eldredge calling the action.
 
Following the two games against New Mexico, the Jayhawks will stay home to face the Cowboys of Oklahoma State for a three-game Big 12 weekend series April 10-12.
 
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