Final regular season games up next for Kansas
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas travels to Ames, Iowa for the final three regular season games of 2019, and are scheduled to play Iowa State May 3-5 at the Cyclones Sports Complex.
The Jayhawks enter the series sixth in the Big 12 standings, while the Cyclones are ranked fifth. Iowa State last played May 1, losing to Drake in Des Moines, Iowa 6-5 in eight innings.
Fans can watch all three games on Cyclones.TV or listen on the Jayhawk Radio Network via KUAthletics.com/Radio with Jackson Schneider calling the action.
QUICK HITS
• KU dropped all three games to then No. 11/12 Texas May 3-5 at Arrocha Ballpark. The Jayhawks finished the 2019 season 9-12 at home.
• In the second game of the series April 27 against Texas, Kansas shattered its attendance record with 2,478 fans.
• Kansas stopped a six-game losing streak, beating No. 12/15 Texas Tech 6-4 Thursday, April 18. The Jayhawks dropped the final two games in the series (2-10 and 1-4).
• The Jayhawks earned their first victory over a ranked opponent since March 25, 2017 when KU beat then-No. 14 Baylor.
• Brynn Minor recorded her 10th victory of her Kansas career with the win over Texas Tech on Thursday, April 18.
• Kansas tallied nine hits against Texas Tech (4/18) and it was the first time KU had nine-or-more hits since April 3 at Tulsa (11 hits), which was the Jayhawk’s last victory.
• Madison Sykes hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning against Texas Tech (4/18), and is tied for second on the team with four home runs.
• KU dropped all three games to No. 2/2 Oklahoma April 12-14 in Lawrence, Kan., and lost three games to No. 13/16 Oklahoma State on April 5-6 in Stillwater, Okla.
• The Jayhawks earned their first away victory of the season, beating Tulsa 7-4 at the Collins Sports Complex Wednesday, April 3.
• Marwitz hit her second home run of the season against Tulsa, and second in three games.
• Freshman Lexy Mills earned her team-leading sixth win of the season after pitching 4.2 innings against Tulsa on April 3.
• The series victory over Baylor is the first Big 12 opening series win for the Jayhawks since March 28-30, 2014, when Kansas swept Oklahoma State.
• The series win over Baylor is the first since April 13-14, 2001. Kansas beat Baylor 6-2 (4/13) and 6-0 (4/14).
ARROCHA BALLPARK ATTENDANCE RECORD
• Kansas set an Arrocha Ballpark attendance record in the second game of the series against then-No. 11/12 Texas with 2,478 watching April 27.
WHERE THEY RANK (as of 4/30)
• Kansas ranks first in the Big 12 and 17th nationally in double plays per game (0.51).
• The Jayhawks rank sixth in the Big 12 and 132nd in the NCAA in doubles per game (1.26).
• KU is 174th in the NCAA in home runs per game (0.53) and sixth in the Big 12.
• Lexy Mills is ranked 47th in the NCAA and sixth in the Big 12 in strikeouts per seven innings (8.1).
• Mills is also ranked 8th in the Big 12 and 79th nationally in hits allowed per seven innings (5.44).
RECAPPING TEXAS
• Kansas dropped all three games to then-No. 11/12 Texas, but set a new attendance record in the second game of the series.
• In what proved to be a pitchers duel in the first game of the series, Kansas fell to Texas 3-0 despite a strong pitching performance by Brynn Minor. Minor pitched six innings and allowed only three runs, but was not provided any run support.
• In front of an Arrocha Ballpark record crowd of 2,478, Kansas played a five-inning contest against Texas. The Longhorns scored 10 runs in the first three innings, while KU was only able to muster one run in the fourth.
• A late comeback attempt fell short on Senior Day in the series finale as the Jayhawks lost4-2. KU tacked two runs on in the bottom of the seventh and had the two tying runs on the corners, but were unable to plate the runs against Texas starter Miranda Elish. Elish recorded wins on Friday and Sunday over KU.
VS. IOWA STATE
• Iowa State enters the series 28-22 and is fifth in the Big 12 standings with a 4-11 mark in conference action. ISU last played No. 1 Oklahoma in Big 12 play and dropped all three games by a combined score of 31-5. The Cyclones played a midweek contest at Drake May 1, losing to the Bulldogs, 6-5
• At the plate, ISU is led by Sami Williams, who is the team leader in batting average (.396), runs (41), hits (65), doubles (18), home runs (12), total bases (123), slugging percentage (.750), walks (20), and on-base percentage (.457). Williams also is 9-11 on stolen bases attempted this season.
• In the circle, the Cyclones have a 3.44 team earned run average and are led by Emma Hylen. Hylen is the team leader in wins (14), appearances (30), innings pitched (139.0), complete games (10) and strikeouts (91).
IOWA STATE SERIES NOTES
• Kansas finished the 2018 Big 12 conference schedule 2-16 with both of its wins coming on the final weekend against Iowa State. If the Jayhawks would have swept the Cyclones, KU would have advanced to the Big 12 Tournament. ISU won the second game of the series on Kansas’ Senior Day.
• Christi Musser set a single-game Kansas record by recording three home runs in a game against Iowa State April 21, 2001. The feat has since been repeated by Val Chapple against Buffalo March 14, 2008.
• Since the Big 12 was formed in 1996, Kansas has finished above Iowa State in the standings 16 times, while the Cyclones have ranked higher six times. In the previous five season, KU has finished above ISU three times (2014, 2015, 2016), while ISU has ranked higher twice (2017, 2018).
PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
• Kansas needs one win against Iowa State to clinch a spot in the 2019 Big 12 Championship. KU can also move to fifth in the standings if it wins two games against the Cyclones.
• Kansas has not made the Big 12 Tournament since it was brought back in 2017. The last time KU played in Big 12 postseason play was the 2010 season.
UP NEXT
• Kansas currently ranks sixth in the Big 12 and would advance to the Big 12 Championship for the first time since the tournament was brought back if it can maintain its position following the series at Iowa State. The Cyclones rank fifth in the Big 12, while Baylor is ranked seventh.
