In its final nonconference series of the year, Kansas split a doubleheader against the Drake Bulldogs on the road. Kansas moved to 20-31 (1-15) while Drake went to 31-19. Kansas will finish the season with a 19-16 record against nonconference opponents, but never found its stride in Big 12 Conference play.

Kansas pitched exceptionally well in Game One, and freshman pitcher Alex Jones pitched seven full innings, allowing just one hit and one earned-run.

“It was one of those games that I got in the groove early, which was nice,” Jones said. “Pitchers also love going to the mound knowing they are already ahead.”

Coach Megan Smith said she was very pleased with Jones’ performance in the pitching circle.

“She did a really good job controlling and jamming the hitters,” Smith said.

The first game was a very sloppy game for both teams, with six errors between the two. In the first inning alone, both teams combined for five errors.

In the top of the first, Drake’s three errors helped Kansas score the first run.

Drake tied the game in the second, but Kansas quickly took the lead back in the third. Neither team would score again, and Kansas would walk away with a narrow 2-1 victory.

In Game Two, Drake’s pitching took over as Kansas only managed to rack up two hits and no runs in the game.

“It was frustrating because we couldn’t get any momentum going,” freshman outfielder Maggie Hull said. “No one came to play at the plate.”

Game Two was also a sloppy game for Kansas, as this time Kansas alone would rack up five errors in the game.

“We thought we had gotten to a point in a season where we had cleaned up all those errors,” Hull said. “It was frustrating to see them come back out again.”

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth, when two errors and two hits helped Drake score four runs to take a 4-0 lead. Drake would add two more runs in the sixth, and Kansas wasn't able to answer as the Bulldogs shut out the Jayhawks 6-0.

Kansas will conclude the regular season this weekend against Iowa State 25-27 (3-13) in a two-game series at Arrocha Ballpark. Iowa State comes in with a six-game losing streak while Kansas has lost eight in a row in Big 12 play.

Kansas has still yet to win a conference game at home, but it will have its best chance against the ninth place Cyclones. Kansas’ five seniors will be honored during Senior Day on Saturday.