Jayhawk Softball Tops Buffalo, Off to Best Start in 13 Seasons

Feb. 13, 2011

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. –

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Sophomore Rosie Hull collected two hits and batted in two runs as the Kansas softball team topped Buffalo 5-1 Sunday morning to help the Jayhawks improve to a perfect 5-0 on the season, their best start since 1998. KU claimed the Jacksonville University Tournament title, which included an upset versus No. 25 North Carolina in the season opener.

In addition to Hull, four other Jayhawks recorded a hit versus Buffalo, including freshman Ashley Newman, who also had one of the team’s three RBIs.

Newman batted in the first run of the game in the top of the second inning when her hit dropped in shallow left field between UB’s outfielder and shortstop to plate sophomore Maggie Hull. Maggie earned a base on balls and stole second when Newman drove her home.

Buffalo, which fell to 0-5, tied up the game in the bottom of the frame. UB led off the inning reaching on an error by Newman. The runner advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt but senior catcher Brittany Hile squashed the threat with a bullet down to sophomore Mariah Montgomery who was waiting at second to pick off the runner. Despite the great play, the Bulls’ next batter knocked a solo home run to left field to even the score.

Rosie Hull helped give the advantage back to Kansas in the third inning. Rosie was waiting on first base after a liner up the middle when sophomore Alex Jones singled to the shortstop. During the play, the UB first baseman was late getting to the bag and the shortstop was forced to make a hurried throw, which went high and rolled to the fence giving Rosie plenty of time to reach home plate while Jones made it all the way to third. During sophomore Mariah Montgomery’s at bat, Jones trotted home on an illegal pitch giving KU a 3-1 lead.

Rosie’s single through the right side of the infield in the top of the seventh inning batted in Maggie and freshman Kendra Cullum to give the Jayhawks their final score of 5-1.

Jones and freshman pitcher Kristin Martinez combined for the win as Martinez improved to 3-0 from the circle and improved her ERA to a team-best 0.46.

Through the first weekend of play, Newman leads the Jayhawks with a .500 batting average (7-for-14) and five stolen bases. Junior Marissa Ingle owns a team-high six RBIs and has been solid at third base with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 24 chances.

Next weekend Kansas returns to Florida when it participates in the Stetson Hatter Invitational, Feb. 18-20, in Deland, Fla.