Diamond 9 Citrus Blossom Invitational up next for Kansas softball
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas softball (0-5) is slated to play in their second tournament of 2019, the Diamond 9 Citrus Blossom Invitational in Kissimmee, Florida February 15-17.
The Jayhawks battle UMASS (0-0) and Iowa (1-3) on the first day of competition and play Providence (3-2) and Bethune-Cookman (1-4) on day two. KU completes the tournament against Missouri (3-2) for the second consecutive weekend and looks to avenge the 3-2 from the Kajikawa Classic.
The Diamond 9 Citrus Blossom Invitational is held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and games are broadcast by FloSoftball and can be heard on the Jayhawk Radio Network.
SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES CENTRAL):
Feb. 15 at 12:30 p.m. | vs. UMASS (0-0)
TV: FloSoftball
Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network
Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. | vs. Iowa (1-3)
TV: FloSoftball
Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network
Feb. 16 at 12:30 p.m. | vs. Providence (3-2)
TV: FloSoftball
Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network
Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. | vs. Bethune-Cookman (1-4)
TV: FloSoftball
Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network
Feb. 17 at 8 a.m. | vs. Missouri (3-2)
TV: FloSoftball
Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network
QUICK HITS
• Kansas started the 2019 season at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona, finishing with an 0-5 record. The Jayhawks dropped games to then-No. 25 Oregon, Stanford, No. 12 Arizona State, Utah and Missouri.
• Kansas holds a 63-78-1 overall record against the five teams – UMASS, Iowa, Providence, Bethune-Cookman and Missouri – that it is slated to face in the Diamond 9 Citrus Blossom Invitational.
• Kansas finished the 2018 season 27-25, 2-16 in Big 12 play and wrapped up last season on May 6 with a victory at Iowa State (4-1).
• The Jayhawks tallied a 17-3 record through their first 20 games of 2018.
• Monaghan has the most active game starts in a Kansas uniform, tallying 90 games started in 95 games played.
• Dellinger has the highest returning batting average for the Jayhawks, finishing the 2018 campaign with a .283 average. The Nebraska native also is the only Jayhawk returning to have logged 10 or more doubles last season.
• Tarin Travieso was named a 2018 All-Big 12 Freshman Team selection and joins Dellinger (2017 All-Big East First Team | Creighton) as the only other current Jayhawk to have received a postseason honor.
• Dellinger (48) and Hughston (113) have started a combined 159 games at the NCAA D1 level prior to their time in a Jayhawk uniform.
WHERE THEY RANK
• Morgyn Wynne is tied for the Big 12 lead in batting average (.571) with Oklahoma’s Jocelyn Alo. Wynne also is tied for second in hits (8) and 48th nationally.
• Kansas holds the fourth highest batting average (.300) in the Big 12 and 73rd nationally.
• The Jayhawks rank first in the Big 12 and 11th in the NCAA in double plays per game (0.80).
• Ramsey is tied for first in the Big 12 and 30th nationally in home runs (2).
• In 10 at bats, Dellinger has yet to record a strikeout, a mark that is tied for the NCAA lead with 328 other players.
300 CAREER AT BATS
• Dellinger logged four at bats against Utah (2/9/19), pushing her career total past the 300 mark. The Nebraska native is the only active Jayhawk to reach the 300 total.
SYDNEE RAMSEY RETURNS
• Sydnee Ramsey started the first 10 games of her Kansas career in 2018, but her promising freshman campaign was cut short with a knee injury. Ramsey returned to action in 2019, starting all five games at the Kajikawa Classic. The redshirt-freshman finished tied with a team-high five RBI, while leading the team with two home runs.
WYNNE THEM OVER
• Freshman Morgyn Wynne started her freshman career off with a bang, leading Kansas in batting average (.571), hits (8) and slugging percentage (.929).
vs UMASS
• UMASS holds the series lead over the Jayhawks, 4-3-1 with all contests coming at a neutral site. In the last meeting between the two schools, the Minutewoman earned a 7-6 victory in San Diego, California.
• The 2019 UMASS softball team have high expectations heading into the season after being selected as preseason favorites in the Atlantic 10. The Minutewoman are defending A-10 champions and finished their 2018 conference slate 21-0.
vs Iowa
• Kansas leads the series between the Hawkeyes and Jayhawks, tallying a 13-5 record. In the previous meeting between the two schools, KU prevailed after defeating Iowa 6-2 in Lawrence, Kansas.
• The Hawkeyes opened the season at the 2019 Tiger Classic defeating Bucknell, 5-3 (2/8/19). Iowa then dropped its next three contests, falling to No. 10 LSU twice.
vs Providence
• The Friars and Jayhawks have meet one time before and KU walked away with the 4-2 victory in Conway, South Carolina (3/18/11).
• Providence opened the season at the River City Leadoff, compiling a 3-2 record with victories over Georgia Tech (2x) and UMASS-Lowell.
vs Bethune-cookman
• Kansas holds a 5-0 record against Bethune-Cookman, including a 17-7 (5) victory in DeLand, Florida in their last meeting (2/19/11).
• BC opened the 2019 season at the Florida Atlantic Kickoff Classic, finishing with a 1-4 record. The Wildcats earned their lone victory over Virginia in a nine-inning affair, 5-4.
vs Missouri
• Missouri controls the series over Kansas by a 67-40 margin and has rattled off 11-consecutive victories against the Jayhawks. In their matchup at the Kajikawa Classic (2/10/19), the Tigers netted victory over KU, 3-2. Senior Jayhawk Brynn Minor tossed a complete game in the defeat.
UP NEXT
• After facing the field at the Diamond 9 Citrus Blossom Invitational, Kansas heads to Knoxville, Tennessee, to play in the Tennessee Classic. KU is scheduled to face Virginia, No. 12 Tennessee, Bradley (2x) and Louisville.
FOLLOW
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