February 12, 2012

Pille Strikes Out 13 to Hand Northern Colorado First Loss, 1-0

Feb. 12, 2012

Kansas 1, Northern Colorado 0
2012 Southeastern Lion Classic
North Oak Park // Hammond, La.

Alicia Pille struck out 13 in the complete game shutout.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R
KU	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
UNCO	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Box Score | Box Score

Leaders – Batting
Kansas	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
M. Hull	2	0	2	1	2	0
C. Naudin	3	0	3	0	0	0
UNCO
M. Yuhas	1	0	2	0	0	0
E. Wilkinson	3	0	1	0	0	0

Pitching
Kansas	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
A. Pille (W, 2-2)	7.0	3	0	0	3	13
UNCO
M. Duffy (L, 1-1)	3.2	5	1	1	2	3

M. Wilkinson

2.1

HAMMOND, La.- Freshman starter Alicia Pille controlled the circle, striking out 13 in complete game shutout against Northern Colorado to close out the Southeastern Lion Classic with a 1-0 victory on Sunday morning.

In an outstanding performance in the third start of her career, Pille’s 13 Ks marked the most since former Jayhawk Val George struck out 12 against Cal on Feb. 22, 2009.

“Pille was impressive today,” head coach Megan Smith said. “She was dominant and got herself out of some tough jams, which was great to see.”

In the top of the sixth, Pille (2-2) worked out of a high-pressure jam during the only pitchers’ duel that the Jayhawks (3-2) played all weekend. The freshman gave up just three walks in her seven-inning outing, two of which came in the top of the sixth. With runners on second and third, Pille struck out the final batter of the inning to keep her shutout in tact.

The KU starter rode that momentum to sit the Bears (5-1) down in order in the top of the seventh, including two more strikeouts to end the game. Along with her 13 strikeouts, the Royse City, Texas, native, held the Bears to three hits over seven innings.

Junior left fielder Maggie Hull provided the offense, drilling two doubles during a 2-for-2 day. After roping a two-out RBI double down the right field line in the bottom of the second, Hull wouldn’t see another pitch to hit. The junior captain was intentionally walked in her last two at bats.

Hull’s damage had already been done, however, as Pille made the 1-0 lead stand for the remaining five innings. Freshman third baseman Chanin Naudin knocked out a flawless 3-for-3 day at the plate, while senior first baseman Marissa Ingle went 1-for-3 with a double.

“Maggie really stepped up today and did a great job,” Smith said. “She came up and produced in a high-pressure situation. We were very happy to see Chanin (Naudin) come out with a 3-for-3 day.”

With one out in the bottom of the second, freshman catcher Lexi Bryant drew a one-out walk and Naudin stepped up with a single to move pinch runner Cassen Salamone into scoring position. Hull came through in the clutch with her liner down the right field line, knocking in Salamone and giving Kansas the 1-0 lead it would not surrender.

Southeastern Lion Classic Results
Friday, Feb. 10
vs. Tennessee-Martin: L, 4-6
vs. Troy: 9:30 p.m. L, 7-8
Saturday, Feb. 11
vs. Southeastern Louisiana: W, 11-0 (5)
vs. Jackson State: W, 5-3
Sunday, Feb. 12
vs. Northern Colorado: W, 1-0