Softball Splits in Day One of Hilton Classic
Feb. 11, 2005
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The University of Kansas softball team split in day one of the Hilton Classic on Friday, defeating Arkansas, 5-1, and falling to Purdue, 2-1, at the Presley Askew Complex. Freshman Cyndi Duran paced the Jayhawks with three hits while rookie Christina Ross picked up her first career win in the circle.
Kansas (2-5) started the Arkansas game with a run off three hits in the top of the first. Freshman lead-off hitter Jackie Vasquez singled to left field and Duran followed with a base hit of her own. With one out, sophomore Nicole Washburn single to right center to score Vasquez and move Duran to third.
Washburn stole second and sophomore Destiny Frankenstein walked to load the bases, but all were left on base after a pop up and strike out.
KU increased its lead to two with a run in the fourth off three more hits. Frankenstein led off with a single and sophomore Kassie Humphreys followed with a base hit up the middle. Junior Jessica Moppin doubled off the left center wall to score Frankenstein and move Humphreys to third.
After an Arkansas (2-4) pitching change, junior Ashley Frazer hit a deep line out to center, but Humphreys was tagged out at the plate as she tried to tag up and ended the inning.
Kansas took a 4-0 lead in the top of the fifth after another hit by Duran, a double by Washburn and single by Frankenstein. The Lady Razorbacks scored their only run in the bottom of the inning and the Jayhawks added one more in the top of the seventh.
Left-hander Ross (1-1) picked up her first career win, striking out three and allowing just three hits. Three Jayhawks had two or more hits while Washburn was credited with three RBI. KU notched 11 hits in the win.
In the next game, Purdue (1-0) scored its only runs of the game in the top of the first on a two-run homer. Moppin put KU on the board in the bottom of the third with a solo home run, her first of the season. The Jayhawks had a chance in their final at-bat with runners on second and third, but could not bring the tying run over the plate.
Humphreys (0-2) pitched a complete game, striking out nine and allowing seven hits. KU had three hits and left four on base in the loss.
KU will continue tournament play Saturday against UMKC (4 p.m. Central) and host New Mexico State (6 p.m.).
-KU-
