Kansas University’s baseball team begins a three-game weekend series with the Western Illinois Leathernecks at 3 p.m. today at Hoglund Ballpark.

The series carries extra importance for the Jayhawks, since its their final series before the Big 12 Conference season, which starts next weekend. And with the way things have gone lately for WIU, the Jayhawks could use this weekend just as they did last weekend against North Dakota State — as an opportunity to solidify their pitching rotation.

Western Illinois has struggled this year against Big 12 competition, going a combined 0-6 against Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

Kansas, on the other hand, is riding a four-game winning streak. The last four games have seen the Jayhawks break out offensively, especially junior outfielder A.J. Van Slyke. The Ladue, Mo., native is 7-for-15 with three home runs and 13 RBIs in that stretch.

The Jayhawks also have seen an emergence from their freshmen, in particular second baseman Ryne Price, third baseman Erik Morrison and left fielder John Allman.

After the Western Illinois series, Kansas travels to Springfield, Mo., to take on Southwest Missouri State on Wednesday before playing host to Nebraska next weekend.