Grand Slam Highlights Georgetown Run-Rule, 9-1
Feb. 9, 2013
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MIAMI, Fla. – Looking to break the game open in the bottom of the fourth, the Jayhawks did exactly that thanks to a grand slam from senior left fielder Maggie Hull, sending Kansas past Georgetown, 9-1, for its second run-rule victory of the Florida International Tournament Saturday morning.
Kansas (3-0) earned the tournament’s No. 1 seed with the win over Georgetown (0-3) and will face the Hoyas on Saturday evening at approximately 4:30 p.m. CT.
Hull collected one hit in her four at bats, but it was an impactful one. Her fourth career grand slam gives the senior captain eight RBIs on the season, moving her into sixth all-time on KU’s career RBI list with 103, behind fellow senior captain Mariah Montgomery’s 105.
Freshman shortstop Chaley Brickey also provided a heavy dose of offense as she chose a good time to record her first career hit. The rookie crushed a two-run double to right centerfield, erasing a 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the second to give KU a lead it wouldn’t surrender. She finished the game 1-for-3 with three RBIs.
Pouring on the hits, KU outhit the Hoyas 14-3, sophomore third baseman Chanin Naudin posted a flawless 4-for-4 day at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Freshman Alex Hugo played behind the plate and at first base and added two hits, while sophomore Maddie Stein switched defensive roles with Hugo at catcher and first base and added a pair of hits of her own. Junior centerfielder Elsa Moyer had a multi-hit day, as well, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Fittingly, several debuts and firsts occurred during opening weekend, but redshirt junior Alex Jones’ (1-0) return to the pitching circle Saturday morning was one of the most significant. Although she played both games of Friday’s opening day, she proved she had her pitching legs back from her ACL tear a year ago with a solid start. She allowed one run on two hits with a strikeout to earn her first win of the season. The captain also went 2-for-3 with a run at the plate.
Georgetown used a wild pitch to scratch the game’s first run across in the top of the first, while Hoya starter Lauren O’Leary (0-1) kept the Jayhawks off the board in their first at bat for the first time all weekend.
KU’s bats weren’t quiet for long as Naudin and Hugo came up with back-to-back singles, putting themselves on board for Brickey. The freshman shortstop responded with a rocket to right center, scoring them both and giving Kansas the lead, 2-1.
Jones worked to fight off long counts on Georgetown batters, keeping them off the board while the Jayhawks continued to look for ways to score. Both Stein and Naudin chalked up hits in the third, but O’Leary silenced the bats through the end of the inning.
The brief lull abruptly ended in the bottom of the fourth. After Brickey drew a walk to lead off the inning, the Jayhawk offense took off. Moyer and Jones showed off their game-changing speed with consecutive infield singles to load the bases for Hull.
Known from coming through in the clutch, Hull didn’t disappoint. She cleared the centerfield wall for the second grand slam of her career and first since her sophomore season.
A ball that got away from the catcher and an RBI from Naudin wrapped up the six-run fourth inning. Armed with an 8-1 lead, freshman pitcher Kelsey Kessler entered the game in the top of the fifth and shut the door on the Hoyas. She racked up a pair of strikeouts and allowed one hit in her two innings of work.
A sacrifice fly from Brickey scored sophomore pinch runner Cassen Salamone to end the game early by way of the 9-1 run rule.
UP NEXT
At 3-0, Kansas earned the weekend’s No. 1 seed and will play fourth-seeded Georgetown (0-3) at approximately 4:30 p.m. CT.
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