Norman, Okla. ? Kansas University’s talented pitching tandem figures to face its toughest Big 12 Conference test this weekend.

Kassie Humphreys and Serena Settlemier, who rank 2-3 in the league respectively in earned run average, will go against the conference’s top hitting team in Oklahoma.

Game times are 2 p.m. today and noon Sunday at the OU softball facility.

“Pitching has been the name of our game,” KU coach Tracy Bunge said, “but we need to score some runs and take the pressure off our pitchers.”

Oklahoma’s team batting average is a glossy .311, but the Sooners’ pitching has been shaky. OU’s staff ERA is a bloated 3.45

“We’re definitely looking for our offense to get untracked,” Bunge said.

Kansas ranks ninth in the 10-team league with a .241 batting average. The Jayhawks’ have been carried by Settlemier, who leads the Big 12 in home runs (20), RBIs (57) and slugging percentage (.856). She is the Jayhawks’ leading hitter with a .353 average.

In the circle, Humphreys and Settlemier rank 2-3 respectively in ERA behind Texas ace Cat Osterman. Humphreys’ ERA is 1.26 and Settlemier’s is only a notch higher at 1.27.

Oklahoma is 30-18 overall, but only 6-10 in the Big 12, primarily because of weak pitching. Kansas (27-22, 6-8) is 8-14 in games decided by one run.

The Jayhawks will close the regular season at home next week with a Wednesday doubleheader against Wichita State and a weekend series with Iowa State.