KU Softball Off to Best Start in Program History Following Day One of Stetson Hatter Invitational

Feb. 18, 2011

Bethune-Cookman Box Score in PDF Format

DELAND, Fla. –

Kansas softball’s offense was in full swing Friday afternoon as the Jayhawks hit four home runs, including two from senior Brittany Hile, en route to their 7-4 win versus Bethune-Cookman in game two of the Stetson Hatter Invitational Friday afternoon.

KU, which defeated South DakotaState 8-0 in six innings earlier in the day, improved its record to 7-0. It is the best start in program history since results began being recorded in 1978.

BCU fell to 1-5 overall. The Wildcats also fell to Kansas during last weekend’s Jacksonville University Tournament.

KU pulled out of reach of the Wildcats with a big fourth inning that saw the Jayhawks score five runs on four hits. Facing a two-out, bases loaded situation, freshman Laura Vickers stepped up to the pressure launching her first career home run over the left field wall. It marked KU’s third grand slam of the season. Hile stepped up to the plate next and proceeded to hit her second home run of the game adding another tally to the scoreboard during the inning to make the score 6-0.

Hile hit her first homer in the previous inning, also a solo shot, to break up the Wildcats’ no hitter. Sophomore Mariah Montgomery was the third Jayhawk to record a home run in the game. The second baseman sent her second round-tripper of the year out of the ballpark in the fifth frame to score KU’s seventh and final run of the game.

The Wildcats scattered its four runs in the last three innings, including a solo home run in the fifth by BCU pitcher Allison Garcia. Bethune-Cookman stranded 10 base runners throughout the contest.

Freshman pitcher Kristin Martinez threw the complete game victory allowing just two earned runs for her team-high fourth victory of the season.

KU is back in action when it takes on Bethune-Cookman once again on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. CST. The Jayhawks will also face Stetson later in the day at 3 p.m.

SDSU Box Score in PDF Format

Kansas 8, SDSU 0 (six innings)
Sophomore Alex Jones went 3-for-3 and stole three bases as Kansas softball shut out South DakotaState 8-0 in six innings Friday to give the Jayhawks their sixth-straight victory to open the season.

KU’s 6-0 start is its best start in program history since results began being recorded in 1978. SDSU, which stranded seven of its eight base runners during the game, fell to 0-3 with the loss in both teams’ opening contest of the Stetson Hatter Invitational.

Kansas plays again Friday afternoon versus Bethune-Cookman at approximately 12:30 p.m. CST. The Jayhawks faced BCU last weekend in the Jacksonville University Tournament where they defeated the Wildcats 5-0.

Four other Jayhawks recorded a hit as KU out-hit the Jackrabbits 7-5 and also collected 13 walks over the course of the game. Freshman Laura Vickers, who was making her first career start at first base, earned base on balls a team-high three times.

Senior pitcher Allie Clark recorded the win going all six innings. She struck out four batters and walked three as she improved to 3-0 from the circle.

Smart base running helped give Kansas two runs in the opening frame. Sophomores Rosie Hull and Jones led off the inning with a walk and a single, respectively, to safely reach base. Hull had worked her way to third by way of a stolen base and Jones’ single. During sophomore Mariah Montgomery’s at-bat, Jones stole second base. The Jackrabbits made a throw down to second in a fake attempt at the runner while Hull darted for home. Hull’s speed beat the throw to home plate and Jones was able to make her way to third during the commotion at the plate. Jones would eventually score on a ground out from junior Marissa Ingle.

The Jayhawks loaded the bases in the top of the second inning by way of two walks and a single from Hull. Montgomery then walked in Vickers with the third base on balls of the inning. A wild pitch allowed Hull to cross home plate for the second time in as many innings pushing KU’s advantage to 4-0.

Newman added another tally in the third inning. The Jayhawks’ shortstop led off the frame with a walk, stole second base, advanced to third with the help of Vickers’ single to center field and then scored on senior Brittany Hile’s sacrifice bunt.

In the fourth inning, Maggie Hull batted in a pair of runs with a hard hit double to left field that scored Jones and redshirt junior Liz Kocon. Kocon later scored the game-ending run in the top of the sixth. The designated player led off the inning with a single to right field and scored following three consecutive walks by the Jackrabbit pitching staff.