RCW: Sport Spotlight 4.30 (Softball)
Thank you, Tracy!!! #KUsoftball pic.twitter.com/uMstjnC7dA
— Kansas Softball (@KUSoftball) April 7, 2018
A post shared by Kansas Softball (@kusoftball) on Apr 7, 2018 at 11:08am PDT
Kansas softball is on its way to setting a program record for doubles in a season.
More than a large enough sample size has accrued — 40 games with 13 remaining — and the Jayhawks continue to register two-base hits at an alarming rate.
Even while KU’s team batting average has dipped below .300 during its current slump of nine losses in the last 11 games, the Jayhawks have still maintained a high clip of doubles. In the last 11 games, Kansas has five games with two or more doubles, including four against Oklahoma State on April 5.
Through 40 games this season, the Jayhawks have 66 total doubles, averaging out to 1.65 per game.
KU’s 1.65 doubles per game is an all-time program high and ranks 16thin the nation this season. The next-highest doubles per-game average for KU is 1.46 in 2013.
Four Jayhawks rank among the top-10 in the Big 12 in total doubles this season led by senior Jessie Roane (13), senior Erin McGinely (12), sophomore Sam Dellinger (10), senior Harli Ridling (nine) and freshman Tarin Travieso (nine).
Roane is also climbing the charts on KU’s career doubles list, entering the week with the sixth most in program history (48). Ridling isn’t far behind with 32.
On Feb. 25, Kansas totaled six doubles during a 10-2 victory over Coppin State for the most doubles by a Big 12 team in a game this season and the third most of all NCAA Division I teams in 2018.
BUTLER RETURNING TO THE DUGOUT
As Rock Chalk Weekly updated, assistant coach Abbie Butler and husband, Tye, gave birth to their first-born daughter, Saydie, earlier this season. This weekend, Coach Butler returns to the dugout to assume duties as assistant coach and pitching coach. Video coordinator Chris Malveaux stepped up as the interim assistant coach during Butler’s absence.
