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Kansas (9-13, 0-2) vs Baylor (11-13, 1-2) April 1-3, 2016 | Waco, Texas | Baylor Ballpark (5,000) SERIES NOTES
FRI. | 6:35 P.M. | Audio | Video Probable Starters: BU -LHP Daniel Castano 2-3, 4.34 ERA KU - LHP Ben Krauth 1-3, 2.57 ERA		SAT. | 3:05 P.M. | Audio | Video Probable Starters: BU - RHP Drew Tolson 2-1, 5.00 ERA KU - LHP Blake Weiman 1-1, 3.33 ERA		SUN. | 1:05 P.M. | Audio | Video Probable Starters: BU - RHP Kyle Hill 0-1, 5.54 ERA KU - RHP Jackson Goddard 2-1, 3.91 ERA

WACO, Texas- Baylor baseball hosts Kansas in a return to Big 12 play this weekend. Games at Baylor Ballpark are scheduled for Friday at 6:35 p.m. CT, Saturday at 3:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:05 p.m., with all three contests airing on FOX Sports Plus.

All Baylor baseball games are broadcast live on Waco's 1660 ESPN Central Texas (1330 AM/100.9 FM in Temple, Belton and Killeen). Derek Smith provides the play-by-play with Steve Johnigan adding color commentary. Live streaming audio, video and GameTracker also are available for all Baylor baseball games online at BaylorBears.com.

SERIESà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € INFO
Date(s): April 1-3, 2016
Time(s): 6:35 PM | 3:05 PM | 1:05 PM CT
Location: Waco, Texas
Stadium: Baylor Ballpark (5,000)
TV: FOX Sports Plus (all 3 games)
Talent: John Morris (pxp), Pat Combs (color)
Radio: ESPN/KRZI 1660 AMà ¢Ã¢' ¬Ã‹ € (Waco)
Talent: Derek Smith (pxp), Steve Johnigan (color)

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: BU leads 48-17
Streak: BU has won 2
Waco: BU leads 26-7
Lawrence: BU leads 17-10
Neutral Site: BU leads 5-0
Rodriguez vs: 0-0
First Meeting: 1957
Last Meeting: May 3, 2015

SERIES MULTIMEDIA
Live Stats: BaylorBears.com
Audio: BaylorBears.com
Video: BaylorBears.com
Twitter Updates: @BaylorBaseball

BAYLOR BEARS
2016 Record: 11-13
2016 Big 12 Record: 1-2
Head Coach: Steve Rodriguez
Career: 297-311 (13th season)
BU: 11-13 (1st season)

2016 STAT LEADERS
AVG: Darryn Sheppard (.356)
2B: Darryn Sheppard (7)
HR: Darryn Sheppard (3)
RBI: Darryn Sheppard (25)
SB: Steven McLean (5)

KANSAS JAYHAWKS
2016 Record: 9-13
2016 Big 12 Record: 0-2
Head Coach: Ritch Price
Career: 640-609-3 (22nd season)
KU: 424-380-2 (14th season)

2016 STAT LEADERS
AVG: Blake Shinkle (.429)
2B: Michael Tinsley (8)
HR: Five Players (1)
RBI: McLaughlin, Tinsley (16)
SB: Joe Moroney (5)

TEAM QUICK NOTES
*Baylor has won three of its last four games.

*Baylor is 393-175 all-time at Baylor Ballpark and 8-9 under Steve Rodriguez.

*Aaron Dodson's walk-off hit on March 29 vs. UTSA was Baylor's first walk-off hit since Adam Toth did so on Feb. 21, 2015, against Kent State.

*Freshman IF Josh Bissonette was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on March 28 for the first time.

*Baylor is 195-290-1 all-time against opponents ranked by Baseball America, 30-38 since 2011 and 1-2 this season.

*Among Big 12 leaders, Troy Montemayor is first in saves (4), Steven McLean is first in HBP (10), Darryn Sheppard is second in RBI (25), fourth in triples (2) and total bases (52), fifth in batting average (.356) and slugging percentage (.578), and eighth in runs (22), and Richard Cunningham is fourth in triples (2).

Among NCAA leaders, McLean is 10th in HBP and Montemayor is 58th in saves.

*Junior LHP Daniel Castano has 31 strikeouts over 32.2 innings in his last five starts -- he posted a season-high 7.2 innings pitched on March 25 at Dallas Baptist, which are the most by any Baylor starter this season.

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Foundation

Baylor baseball seems to have a knack for being able to dig itself out of early holes, coming back to win four games already this season when trailing after the first five innings.

But first-year head coach Steve Rodriguez would rather the Bears (11-13, 1-2) get their runs and wins early.

"It's hard when you put yourself in a deficit early in the game, and then you're forcing yourself to come back," said Rodriguez, whose team will host Kansas (9-13, 0-2) in a three-game weekend series starting with Friday's 6:35 p.m. tilt at Baylor Ballpark. "I know for us coaches, it's good to see guys be able to fight and come back. And I think we've done a pretty good job of that, knowing that we're never out of it until that last out is made."

After waiting till the final weekend to earn the eighth and final spot for the Big 12 tournament last season, the Bears can move up the conference standings and create some separation from the Jayhawks by winning this series.

"I think every win, especially in Big 12 play, is going to be big for us, just to be able to make sure you have a chance at the end," Rodriguez said. "There's nothing worse than putting yourself in a deficit, then having to win every game down the stretch. As long as you can win every series and win as many games as possible early, that's going to be a big part of our success, just to let guys know we have a chance."

Baylor has some momentum going into this weekend after winning three of its last four games, including Tuesday's 5-4 walk-off win over UTSA.

Junior first baseman/catcher Aaron Dodson, who got the game-winning hit, said there's nothing like it. "It gets your heart going, and it's just nice to know that you came through for the game and got the win," he said.

Along with Darryn Sheppard (.356, 25 RBI), Kameron Esthay (.319) and Matt Menard (.333), Dodson (.315) has helped give the Bears a solid attack in the heart of the order at the Nos. 3-6 spots in the lineup.

"When people ahead of you are getting on base and putting you in good position to drive in runs, which they've been doing for me all year hitting in the No. 5 spot, it's just fun," said Dodson, who has added two homers, three doubles and 15 RBI. "It's fun to drive in runs, get the RBIs, hit the long ball, hit the doubles. And it just trickles down through the lineup."

Kansas opened league play last weekend with a pair of losses at home to West Virginia before Sunday's series finale was snowed out. But the Jayhawks bounced back with midweek wins over 16th-ranked Missouri State, 2-1, and Benedictine College, 19-7.

"They're going to be aggressive," Rodriguez said. "They have some guys who can run, they have some big, tall pitchers who are going to compete down in the zone. But I've said this many times, I really don't care who we're playing against. If we can play good baseball, I like our chances at the end of the game."

The Jayhawks will start a pair of left-handers in the first two games of the series, with Ben Krauth (1-4, 2.57 ERA) opposed by Baylor junior lefty Daniel Castano (2-3, 4.34) Friday night and Blake Weiman (1-1, 3.33) going against Drew Tolson (2-1, 5.00) in Saturday's 3:05 p.m. game. Sunday's 1:05 p.m. series finale will pit Baylor freshman right-hander Kyle Hill (0-1, 5.54) against Kansas righty Jackson Goddard (2-1, 3.91).

"They're throwing two lefties, and I would say we haven't hit lefties as well as righties," Dodson said. "I don't their (velocities) or what, but I think it's going to be a good series. I think we should easily take two out of three if not sweep them. So, we're looking forward to it."

All three games will be broadcast by FOX Sports Plus, with John Morris handling play-by-play and former Baylor pitcher Pat Combs providing color analysis.