Jayhawks Fall to South Carolina in Sunshine State Opener
Feb. 16, 2007
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –
Kansas softball fell to South Carolina, 3-1, Friday afternoon in the <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>SunshineState Tournament at JoAnne Graf Field. The Jayhawks moved on to face No. 23/23 Florida State in the nightcap.
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Sophomore Valerie George (0-2) gave up five hits, struck out five and walked one in five innings to take the loss. Senior Kassie Humphreys allowed two hits, fanned two batters and walked one in one inning of relief.
USC starter Melissa Hendon allowed four hits, struck out 10 and walked two in five innings before Kate Pouliot (5-0) walked one and held the Jayhawks scoreless in two innings to take the victory.
South Carolina scored in the bottom of the fourth on two hits. Lindsey Walker singled to left center and stole second before Jessica Josker notched a base hit to left for the RBI.
The Jayhawks used three consecutive hits to score a run in the top of the sixth. Freshman Sara Ramirez started off the inning with a double and sophomore Stevie Crisosto singled to left to move her to third. Sophomore Elle Pottorf notched a base hit to left to score Ramirez, her fourth RBI of the season, and tie the game.
The Gamecocks scored two runs in their next at-bat. George walked McKenna Hughes to lead off the bottom of the sixth and Humphreys came in to pitch. The next USC batter used a bunt single to advance Hughes and Walker’s sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position. Humphreys walked Josker to load the bases and with one out, Jacqueline Wetherbee singled to left to score Hughes. USC scored its third run on Humphreys’ wild pitch.
KU had a chance to score in the top of the seventh and loaded the bases with two outs. The Jayhawks stranded a total of nine runners on base but were errorless in the loss.
