LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas Jayhawks are set for their second road trip of the season, traveling to Long Beach, California, to compete in the Wilson Invitational at the LBSU Softball Complex from Feb. 14-16. The Jayhawks will face Saint Mary's, Cal, Southern Utah and Long Beach State.
"We are all ready to get back on the field and compete," head coach
Jennifer McFalls said. "This team is working extremely hard, and they are ready to start seeing results."
The Jayhawks open the tournament on Friday against Saint Mary's at 9:00 p.m. CT. Over the weekend, KU will play Cal on Saturday at 9:00 p.m. CT and will conclude tournament play on Sunday with matchups against Southern Utah and Long Beach State.
Last weekend at the Paradise Classic Tournament, Kansas went 1-4, playing against strong competition throughout the weekend. The Jayhawks earned their first win of the season in dominant fashion, shutting out Missouri State, 8-0, behind a flawless defensive performance.
At the plate, Kansas is currently led by its junior class, with
Presley Limbaugh (.375) and
Hailey Cripe (.357) setting the pace at the plate. Sophomore
September Flanagan follows closely with a .333 average.
On the defensive end, 11 Jayhawks maintain a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, contributing to the team's overall .962 fielding percentage. Through the first five games, Kansas has recorded 96 putouts.
Freshmen
Bailey Weber and
Ava Wallace showcased their potential in their season debuts. Wallace appeared in four games, recording a .556 batting average in nine at-bats and a .750 fielding percentage. Weber made an impact on defense, posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage over five games while also going undefeated on stolen base attempts.
All four pitchers saw action in the Paradise Classic with
Kaelee Washington leading the Kansas pitching staff, posting a 1.86 ERA with a 1-0 record over 9.2 innings, holding opponents to a .171 batting average.
Lizzy Ludwig follows with a 3.68 ERA in 7.1 innings pitched, while
Katie Brooks has logged a team-high 12.2 innings pitched with seven strikeouts. With Washington setting the tone, the Jayhawks' pitching staff looks to build momentum as the season progresses.Â
HOW TO FOLLOW
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