Friday, April 10, 2009
Since the 1890s, Kansas has been known for its classic colors — crimson and blue. However, Jayhawk fans wishing to cheer on the softball team this weekend at Arrocha Ballpark are encouraged to wear pink.
Today’s game, which was recently moved up to 4 p.m., kicks off the Jayhawks for a Cure series. In the two-game series, Kansas will host the No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners (30-12, 7-3). The second game starts at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Senior third baseman Val Chapple connects with a pitch during an April 8 game against Nebraska. The Jayhawks will play No. 13 Oklahoma in a two-game series this weekend.
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Kansas vs. No. 13 Oklahoma
Two-game series Arrocha Ballpark
Game 1: 4 p.m. today
Game 2: 1 p.m. Saturday
The Jayhawks come into the series after splitting Wednesday’s doubleheader against Nebraska. It was their third-straight split series in conference play. At 4-4 against the USA Softball/ESPN top 25, the Jayhawks aren’t intimidated by the Sooners.
“I’m thinking about us taking two,” said junior second baseman Sarah Ramirez.
Ramirez, who started Wednesday’s game-winning rally with a leadoff single, also spoke about the team’s overall confidence.
“I know that we’ve played some of our best games against ranked teams,” she said. “We’re pumped up and ready to dominate.”
Oklahoma is currently third in the Big 12 at 7-3, a testament to the overall strength of the conference. Aside from the Sooners, the Big 12 currently has three other ranked teams in the USA Softball/ESPN top 25: No. 10 Missouri, No. 20 Texas and No. 24 Texas A&M.
Oklahoma returned 11 letter-winners from last year, when the team swept Kansas in a two-game series. The Sooner offense is led by junior infielder Amber Flores, an ESPN preseason All-American and two-time Big 12 player of the week. Flores currently totes a .425 batting average, and has racked up 11 home runs and 45 RBI for the season. Paced by Flores, Oklahoma’s high-powered offense averages nearly six runs per game and is atop the Big 12 in total home runs with 39. If the Sooners have a weakness, it’s from the circle, where their pitching staff has a combined 2.91 ERA.
Coach Tracy Bunge was unavailable for comment, but senior third baseman Val Chapple spoke of the team’s resolve, echoing some of her coach’s past sentiments.
“We’re just taking it one game at a time,” Chapple said. “The bottom line is that we’ve just got to go out and play our game.”
Kansas, with the 16th most difficult schedule in the nation, according to warrennolan.com, currently sits at seventh place in the Big 12 with a record of 3-5 (13-23 overall). The Jayhawk offense is led by Chapple (.323), sophomore left fielder Liz Kocon (.301), and senior center fielder Dougie McCaulley (.294). Kocon also leads the team with 21 RBIs and is second in home runs with four, one behind sophomore Allie Clark’s five long balls.
Kansas junior Sarah Vertelka and senior Valerie George are expected to shoulder the load for the pitching staff. The two have pitched a combined 195 2/3 innings while posting ERAs of 2.95 and 2.75 respectively. George is fourth in the Big 12 with 130 strikeouts.
Saturday’s contest is the official Jayhawks for a Cure game. Admission is free for students with a KUID and $3 for all other attendees wearing pink. The team will also be accepting donations at the gate, with the proceeds going to Lawrence Memorial Hospital and the KU Cancer Center.
— — Edited by Liz Schubauer
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