WINFIELD, Kan. — Southwestern heads back on the road this weekend for a three-game Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference series against Kansas Wesleyan, with all games scheduled for Dean Evans Stadium in Salina, Kansas.
The series opens Thursday at noon, followed by a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
Southwestern (15-31, 9-24 KCAC) enters the weekend riding its longest winning streak of the season at three games. The Moundbuilders have shown offensive production throughout the year, hitting .279 as a team with 398 hits and 279 runs scored.
Raisean Dorsey has been a key contributor at the plate, batting .401 with 55 hits and 43 RBIs. Sam Benz is hitting .339 with a team-high 17 doubles and 43 runs scored, while Koda Larsen (.290) and Brice Nittler (.325) have added depth to the lineup.
On the mound, Jaden Hensley leads the staff with a 5-2 record and a 4.33 ERA over 54 innings. Jaxon Burns has been effective out of the bullpen, posting a 4.91 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 29.1 innings.
Kansas Wesleyan (40-6, 29-4 KCAC) enters the series as one of the top teams in the conference. The Coyotes are hitting .357 as a team and have powered 112 home runs this season.
Carter Allen leads Kansas Wesleyan with a .417 batting average and 20 home runs, while Chris Finocchario is hitting .392 with 20 home runs and 56 RBIs. The Coyotes have also received strong pitching, posting a 4.42 team ERA, led by Shaw Lee, who is 8-1 with a 3.41 ERA in 66 innings.
Kansas Wesleyan has outscored opponents 505-207 this season, presenting a significant challenge for a Southwestern pitching staff that has allowed 457 runs.
Southwestern will look to continue its recent momentum and generate consistent offense as it faces one of the KCAC's top contenders in a pivotal late-season conference series.
