The last time Kansas University’s baseball team faced the sixth-ranked team in the country, the Jayhawks were dynamite.

That was back in February, when KU traveled to Louisiana State, scored 24 runs in three games and left Baton Rouge, La., with an improbable three-game sweep of a college baseball powerhouse.

Two and a half months later, KU will face the No. 6 team in the land again. This time, it’s Big 12 Conference foe Texas.

Start time for the first game of the three-game series is 7 tonight at Hoglund Ballpark.

“I see it as a great opportunity,” KU coach Ritch Price said. “The national champions are coming to town.”

Indeed, the Longhorns did take the crown a year ago, going 9-1 in NCAA Tournament play and beating South Carolina, 12-6, in the title game in Omaha, Neb.

And this year, it appears the ‘Horns are as strong as ever. Behind a conference-low 3.38 team earned run average, the Longhorns have compiled a 35-13 overall record. In addition, their 16-5 Big 12 mark is tops in the conference.

Kansas, meanwhile, is 32-19 overall, but stands seventh in the Big 12 with a 7-11 mark. The top eight teams will advance to the Big 12 tournament later this month.

Price, like he has all season, is showing faith in his squad as they tackle yet another quality opponent.

“We’ve been to LSU, and we played Nebraska and Oklahoma State,” Price said. “We’ve won some big games during the course of the season. Obviously, Texas is going to be our best opponent of the year.”

KU has lost three straight — two to No. 24 Baylor last weekend and one Tuesday against Wichita State. To keep a firm grip on a Big 12 tournament berth, the Jayhawks will need at least one victory this weekend.

Currently, Oklahoma (4-14 Big 12 record) and Kansas State (2-16) are the odd teams out. Iowa State and Colorado do not field teams.

“We’re going to come out and have a little extra drive,” KU junior Ryan Baty said. “We’re in a rut, and the way to get out of that is to out-hustle our opponent and out-compete our opponent.”

The series will continue with single games at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.