Kansas Jayhawk Spring Sports Update

Time for a little love for the sports that don't see it that often.  Yes it's football and basketball that make the engine of the athletic department go, but there are a bunch of other sports and student athletes wearing the name Kansas on their uniforms this spring.  It's a slow week, Oklahoma State on Monday and Oklahoma on Saturday don't exactly get the competitive juices flowing so how about a look see?

Kansas Baseball

Fetch has kept us fairly well informed through the early games but at this point the team sits 1-3.  The season kicked off against #1 TCU and the Jayhawks were able to steal game three in this one 4-3 in extra innings. 

1st basemen Zac Elgie was the hero on the day driving in the tie breaking run with a two run double in the top of the 14th.  TCU would pick up a run in the bottom half of the inning and threaten but Kansas was able to hold them off to secure a big upset.

Kansas first baseman Zac Elgie On the win over No. 1 TCU:

"First off what a game, to come in a place like this with the big crowd, to be in the game, you have to give credit to (relief pitcher) Colton (Murray). To go that long, pitch six innings, and to (starting pitcher) Tanner (Poppe), it was just a great thing to be a part of."

"It's a whole team effort, everyone is in the ballgame and you need everyone playing for you. To have the teammates rooting for you in a hostile environment, you need that kind of support and to have that really went a long way for us."

Tuesday the Jayhawks opened at home against in a one game series against Creighton.  The Jayhawks lost by a final score of 4-3.

Now if you enjoy yourself a little baseball and you're looking for something to do this weekend, might I recommend a day at Hoglund Park.  Kansas opens up a little mini round robin with games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

Friday 3pm Kansas vs. St. Louis

Saturday Kansas vs. St. Louis (45 minutes after Iowa St. v Louis which starts at 11am)

Sunday Kansas vs. Iowa (45 minutes after Iowa v St. Louis which starts at 11am)

Women's Basketball

The Jayhawk women's team sits 18-9 with an 5-8 Big 12 record.  Top wins include a home win over #20 Iowa State and an overtime win at home over Missouri.

The most recent win against Texas A&M gives KU its most wins since going 22-14 during the 2008-2009 season and Kansas has now one four of their last six heading into the final stretch of the season.

The Jayhawks are led by 6'3" sophomore forward Carolyn Davis who averages 18 points and 7 rebounds on the season.  Angel Goodrich, Monica Engelman, Diara Moore and Tania Jackson round out the regular starters.

Track And Field

The indoor track season is coming to a close as this weekend the Jayhawks head to Lincoln for the Big 12 Indoor championships which run Friday and Saturday.  After that any Jayhawks that qualify will prepare of the NCAA Indoor Championships to be held March 10, 11, 12 in College Station Texas.

The indoor season has been a productive one for Kansas including several record setting performances this spring from sophomore thrower Mason Finley.  Finley's efforts have earned him both Big 12 and National athlete of the week honors during the indoor season.

Kansas Softball

Believe it or not this might be the story of the spring for Kansas non-revenue sports.  Now I'm starting to feel a little like Rock M Nation. 

Anyway, the Kansas softball team is currently off to the best start in program history with a perfect 10-0 regular season start.

Now I won't pretend to know much about softball but here are a few team leaders:

Maggie Hull, Sophomore Outfielder: .400 avg, 13 RBI's

Brittany Hile, Senior Catcher: 5 HR, 10 RBI's

Kristin Martinez, Freshman Pitcher: 4-0 record, 2.1 ERA

Allie Clark, Senior Pitcher: 5-0 record, 3.0 ERA

Your next chance to catch the Jayhawks at home is March 23rd in the BORDER WAR against Missouri.  Before that, the Jayhawks will play in four more early season tournaments around the country. 

No joke, it's worse than a basketball teams travel schedule in March.  Of course we can't have a football playoff because it's about the student athletes right?

Golf

Kansas gold kicks off their spring season this weekend at the Wyoming Desert Classic in Palm Desert California.  The Jayhawks are led by a senior from the great state of North Dakota, Nate Barbee.  Barbee

Rowing

Spring season kicks off March 10-12 in OKC for the Oklahoma Invitational.  The team has been busy training over the winter including a nine day trip to Austin Texas for "winter training". 

And just in case you needed a reminder of one of the thing Lew Perkins WAS good at, here's a video tour of the rowing boathouse.  When I was in school they had an 8x10 shed on the river.

Swimming and Diving

The Jayhawk swimmers are actually in the middle of the Big 12 championships which are being held down in Austin Texas.  Is EVERYTHING in Austin?

After one day of competition Kansas sits tied for 3rd with Missouri at 62 points.  Both schools are 12 points behind 1st place A&M and Texas while Nebraska sits 5th with 56 points and Iowa State is in last with 52.

Senior Iuliia Kuzhil from the Ukraine led the Kansas 200M Medley relay to a 3rd place finish and the groups fastest time of the season.

The Jayhawk season has been highlighted by a 10-5 record in dual meets and a 2-1 record against Big 12 competition.  Kansas is a senior heavy group led by Joy Bunting, Amanda Maez, Alyssa Potter, Brittany Potter and Iuliia Kuzhil. 

Outside the pool the Jayhawks placed 13 individuals on the All Big 12 Academic team with 10 of those being named to the first team and 3 to the second team.

The Jayhawks will continue competition in Austin through the weekend with the NCAA Championships scheduled for March 17-19th.

Tennis

I had no idea this could get so extensive.  On to Tennis.  Kansas has a Tennis team and they compete virtually all year.  The fall season wrapped up in early November but the spring season is in full swing with the Jayhawks participating in several head to heads.

Most recently Kansas defeated Arkansas Little Rock 6-1 falling 1 match shy of the sweep.  Kansas currently sits at 2-3 on the season.

That's it, that's all I got.  Kansas spring sports update brought to you by Rock Chalk Talk.