Kansas University’s softball team is hoping to pick up some momentum at the Hilton Classic this weekend in Las Cruces, N.M.

The Jayhawks (1-4) will open today against Arkansas at 2 p.m., then clash with Purdue at 4 p.m. Saturday’s games will be against Missouri-Kansas City (10 a.m.) and host New Mexico State (6 p.m.). KU will wind up with a noon game Sunday against Utah Valley State.

Kansas coach Tracy Bunge will be looking for sharper pitching than she had last weekend when the Jayhawks dropped four of five games at a tournament in Tucson, Ariz.

Kansas’ team earned-run average in those five games was 3.50. Sophomore Kassie Humphreys struggled with control, walking 10 batters in 92/3 innings, giving 13 hits and posting an unsightly 5.07 ERA.

Junior Serena Settlemier, returning to full-time mound duty for the first time in three years, has a 3.27 ERA. In limited duty, freshman left-hander Christina Ross had a 1.91 ERA in Tucson.

Junior third baseman Nettie Fierros was the hitting standout on opening weekend. Fierros, who hit only .124 last season, logged a .600 batting average and already has accumulated four doubles.

Freshman leadoff hitter Jackie Vasquez also sparkled in Tucson, leading the Jayhawks with seven hits.