Kansas hosts Texas Tech in weekend series

Kansas softball opens a three-game series against Texas Tech on Friday at 5 p.m., at Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park. Game two is Saturday at 2 p.m., followed by the series finale on Sunday at noon.

The Jayhawks (25-21, 0-12 Big 12) and Red Raiders (22-24, 2-13) will jockey for position in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship as conference play rounds the home stretch of the regular season. This weekend is Texas Tech’s final Big 12 series of 2018, while Kansas plays Iowa State at home next weekend to conclude the regular season.

Game one of the series will be on the Jayhawk Television Network, powered by Spectrum Sports, with Leif Lisec calling play-by-play and Jill Dorsey-Hall providing analysis. Games two and three will be available free of charge on KUAthletics.com/watch.

All three games will be available on the Jayhawk Radio Network through KUAthletics.com/radio with Nick Springer calling the action.

LEADING OFF

• Kansas begins a six-game home stand on Friday against Texas Tech that will usher in the conclusion of the regular season.
• Kansas holds a 36-22 series advantage over Texas Tech and has won the last two regular-season series in 2016 and 2017.
• The Jayhawks are looking to snap a 10-game losing streak after playing nine-straight contests against teams currently ranked in the NFCA top-25.
• Through 46 games this season, the Jayhawks have 69 doubles. KU’s 1.50 doubles per game is a program high and ranks 30th in the nation.
• Senior infielder Jessie Roane leads KU with a .374 batting average and 14 doubles, while entering Wednesday on a three-game hitting streak. 
• Senior catcher Harli Ridling ranks third in career home runs (35) and third in career RBIs (142) at KU. This season, she is hitting .289 with 17 extra-base hits — seven home runs and 10 doubles.
• Freshman utility Tarin Travieso leads KU with 30 RBIs.
• Junior pitcher Andie Formby (11-8) leads Kansas with a 2.48 ERA, 12 complete games, three complete-game shutouts and 96 strikeouts. 21), innings pitched (123.2) and ranks third in total strikeouts (94). Formby has three complete-game shutouts this season.
• Kansas ranks 20th in the nation in fielding percentage (.974). KU has just two errors in the last five games.
• Kansas started the season 17-3 for its best 20-game start since 1996. The Jayhawks have a pair of winning streaks lasting at least five games this season.
• KU’s 12-inning loss to Colorado State on March 30 was the most innings KU has played in 25 years. During the game, junior utility Brynn Minor threw a Big 12 season high of 14 strikeouts.
• Kansas is 7-3 in one-run games, 4-2 in extra-inning contests, and feature three walk-off victories this season.
• The 2018 Kansas softball campaign marks the 50th season overall and the ninth under head coach Megan Smith. Kansas has a 271-200 (.575) record during Smith’s tenure.

PROMOTIONS
Friday

• Crimson & Blue Poms Giveaway
• Jay Day – $2 hot dogs, $2 popcorn, $1 fudge bars

Saturday – Superhero Day

• $5 admission to kids in costume
• Superhero Masks Giveaway

Sunday – Bark in the Park

• Dogs are welcome inside Arrocha Ballpark with a donation to Lawrence Humane Society
• $1 hot dogs
• Postgame youth softball clinic (participants must be in 8th grade or younger)

LAST TIME OUT
Kansas was swept in a three-game series against No. 21 Baylor last week to end a stretch of six-straight games against teams ranked in the NFCA top-25, including nine-straight games against teams currently ranked in the top-25.

Senior infielder Jessie Roane led the Jayhawks’ offense in Waco, batting 4-for-9 at the plate. Sophomore infielder Becki Monaghan homered in game one of the series, doing what the Bears still haven’t done all season — hit a home run inside Baylor’s Getterman Stadium.

KU’s midweek game against Omaha was rained out on Wednesday.

SERIES SUMMARY: Texas Tech
Kansas holds a 36-22 series advantage over Texas Tech entering this weekend’s three-game series in Lawrence. Kansas has won five of the last six games in the series, including a 3-0 series sweep in 2016 and a 2-1 series win in 2017.

The Red Raiders, led by fourth-year head coach Adrian Gregory, are hitting .282 as a team with a 3.87 staff earned run average.

Junior infielder Jessica Hartwell leads the Red Raiders with a .391 bating average, 15 home runs and 44 RBIs. Freshman left-handed pitcher Erin Edmoundson is Tech’s primary starter in the circle with a 13-10 record, 3.03 ERA and 108 strikeouts this season.

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