Softball looks to end losing streak against Missouri

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Kansas’ young softball team is getting quite the welcome to Big 12 Conference play.

KANSAN

KANSAN FILE PHOTO

The Jayhawks have dropped six of their last seven conference games in a league that features four ranked teams. The team was outscored 20-0 last weekend by Texas A&M.

Kansas (27-16-1, 3-6) hopes to break its three-game losing streak today against Missouri (30-18, 6-1). The Tigers are in town for a doubleheader at Arrocha Ballpark. Game one will begin at 3 p.m., followed by game two.

“This league is not forgiving and there are no breaks,” coach Tracy Bunge said. “When you’re playing as good of competition as the Big 12 as you are and we’re not playing really well on defense and we’re not getting the pitching and people are struggling offensively, its tough.”

Coming into the season, senior pitcher Kassie Humphreys was expected to be one of the Big 12’s best. While she boasts a 13-9 record and 162 strikeouts, Humphreys struggled in her last start, giving up four runs. That outing was uncharacteristic considering Humphreys gives up less than three runs a game.

Bunge said she and her coaching staff were staying positive with the young group because they see the effort, but maybe that effort is too high, adding extra pressure.

“We got to go out and we got to battle and we got to keep working to get better and we just have to stay positive because they’re beating themselves up,” Bunge said. “This is a group that we’re not going to get down on.”

Missouri is 6-1 in the Big 12 and the team split a series against No. 4 Oklahoma last weekend.

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We got to go out and we got to battle and we got to keep working to get better and we just have to stay positive because they’re beating themselves up. This is a group that we’re not going to get down on.

-coach Tracy Bunge

The Tigers win with offense, ranking third in the Big 12 in team batting average (.297), second in runs scored (284) and first in doubles (76). The Tigers average 5.92 runs per game.

Pitching has been the trouble for the Tigers this season. They rank last in the conference with a 3.88 team ERA.

The Jayhawks have won the last two games against the Tigers and hope they can extend that streak today.

“We’re just trying to put up W’s now,” senior first baseman Nicole Washburn said. “Especially big ones against Missouri.”

Kansan sportswriter Evan Kafarakis can be contacted at ekafarakis@kansan.com.

— Edited by Ryan Schneider

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