Jayhawks Wrap Up First Day With Loss to Sam Houston State
Feb. 12, 2010
HOUSTON, Texas –
Despite putting base runners on in all but one inning, Kansas softball could not find the timely hit it needed to score as it lost 8-0 to Sam Houston State to wrap up the first day of the Mariott Hobby Invite.
The Jayhawks dropped its season opener to No. 21/22 Louisville earlier in the day, also in five innings.
KU had its best chance to score in the bottom of the first inning loading the bases with a Sara Ramirez single and two-out walks delivered to juniors Liz Kocon and Brittany Hile. Junior Allie Clark stepped into the batter’s box next and hit a hard grounder to the right side. It did not get through the gap in time as SHSU’s second baseman snagged the ball and threw out Clark at first to end the inning.
The Bearkats scored five of its eight runs in the top of the second inning with two outs, taking advantage of a walk and four hits. Sam Houston State scattered four additional hits over the last two innings to add three more runs to the scoreboard, two of which were earned.
The Bearkats’ pitcher Morgan Mikulin limited Kansas to four hits, including two to senior Alicia Irwin in her first career multi-hit game, and allowed just two walks.
Clark made her first start at pitcher for the Jayhawks since Feb. 13 of last season. She tossed the first one and two thirds innings to suffer the loss. Senior Sarah Vertelka pitched the final three and one third innings for the Jayhawks.
Kansas will have a chance to avenge its loss to Sam Houston State on Saturday at 3 p.m. as play continues in the Marriott Hobby Invite. KU also faces Houston later in the day on Saturday at 7 p.m. Live stats are available at www.KUAthletics.com.
