KU softball team to play in Florida tournament

Nobody can accuse Kansas University coach Tracy Bunge of having a soft softball schedule.

The Jayhawks played six ranked teams during tournaments in Phoenix and Las Vegas last month. Now KU will face two more ranked clubs this weekend in a four-team tourney in Tallahassee, Fla.

Today the Jayhawks will clash with No. 16-ranked Florida State. On Saturday, they’ll meet No. 22 Mississippi State and unranked Texas. Sunday matchups will be determined by won-lost records on Friday and Saturday.

Freshman pitcher-first baseman Serena Settlemier is leading the Jayhawks in hitting with a .550 average. Left fielder Christi Musser is close behind at .520. Settlemier and Musser share the team RBI lead with six apiece.

Kansas, 4-6, boasts an impressive .280 team batting average and 10 home runs, but the team earned run average is a lofty 3.83.

Kelly Campbell doesn’t have any decisions, but the senior right-hander has compiled a 1.14 ERA in 14 innings of relief. However, Kara Pierce, Big 12 freshman of the year in 2001, has a 2-3 record with a 4.48 ERA while junior Kirsten Milhoan checks in at 0-1 with a 6.39 ERA. Settlemier is 2-2 with a 3.85 ERA.

Kansas is scheduled to play its home opener next Tuesday afternoon against Washburn.