Jayhawks Fall at UNLV, 9-8, in Eight Innings
Feb. 19, 2006
LAS VEGAS, NEV. –
Despite two home runs and five RBI from senior pitcher Serena Settlemier, Kansas softball fell at UNLV, 9-8, in extra innings Sunday afternoon in the final day of the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic at Eller Media Stadium. With the loss, KU finished the tournament 2-3 and moved to 4-5 on the season.
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KU jumped out ahead early, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Freshman Val Chapple led off with a double off the left field fence and moved to second on a sacrifice by senior Heather Stanley. Senior Destiny Frankenstein reached on a throwing error and Chapple was able to score before Settlemier blasted her fourth home run of the season to put the Jayhawks up, 3-0.
UNLV retaliated in the bottom half of the inning with three runs off two hits and a KU error. Sophomore Marissa Nichols led off with a single and moved to second on a throwing error by Settlemier. Freshman Jaci Hull walked and with based loaded, senior Maggie Livreri notched a sacrifice fly to deep left to score Nichols. Sophomore Rosa Ordaz hit a blooper single over second base to score two runs, 3-3.
The Rebels took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth on three walks and an error by Frankenstein. Junior Kassie Humphreys came to relieve Settlemier and walked the first two batters and with one out, sophomore Shannon Crisp reached on an error, scoring the UNLV lead runner. Humphreys walked one more but got out of the inning with a 1-2-3 double play.
In the top of the sixth, Frankenstein hit her sixth home run of the season (solo) to right to tie the game at 4-all.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, senior Heather Stanley doubled and moved to third on an infield hit by Moppin. Frankenstein was intentionally walked to load the bases and Settlemier hit a grand slam, her second homer of the contest (fifth of the season), 8-4.
With no outs, Crisp hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to bring the Rebels within two. After a UNLV single and two walks (one intentional), Hull was hit by a pitch, allowing a run to score. Humphreys walked Livreri, tying the game, and Settlemier returned to the circle and retired the last batter to hold the game at an 8-8 tie.
KU could not score in the eighth with the international tie-breaker rule in effect (Crisosto placed on second), giving UNLV its chance in the bottom of the inning. Crisp’s infield single moved the winning run to third and freshman Kendall Fearn singled to left to drive in the game-winner, 9-8.
Settlemier (2-2) allowed six hits, walked four and struck out two in 4.1 innings (one earned run) for the loss. Humphreys gave up three hits, walked seven and struck out two in 2.2 innings (four earned runs).
UNLV starter Christie Robinson gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out nine in the first 6.2 innings. Crisp (3-1) was credited with the win after allowing one hit and striking out two in 1.1 innings. UNLV (6-4) left 15 on base in the victory while KU stranded five.
KU will next be in action Feb. 24-26 at the Palm Springs Classic in Palm Springs, Calif.
-KU-
