Kansas Softball Holds Off BYU to Preserve 3-1 Win

Feb. 20, 2009

Box Score

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. –

Kansas softball halted a two-game skid with a 3-1 victory over Brigham Young Friday afternoon during the Cathedral City Classic to improve to 5-7 on the season while the Cougars dropped to 6-9 overall.

Despite being out-hit 7-3 in the contest, the Jayhawks played solid defense as they help strand 10 BYU runners. KU pitcher Val George fanned five batters in the game as she evened her record to 4-4 from the circle.

Playing from behind, Kansas took advantage of two BYU errors in the top of the fourth inning to tie the score at one run a piece.

Amanda Jobe reached base first for KU following an error by the shortstop and Val Chapple moved her over to second following a sacrifice bunt. Allie Clark was then able to help plate Jobe when she hit a grounder between the second baseman’s legs, which kept on moving into right field, giving Jobe plenty of time to round third and continue on home.

The Jayhawks eventually took the lead with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Stevie Crisosto and Dougie McCualley earned back-to-back walks to get things started. One out later, Chapple’s single up towards the middle got away from the Cougars’ shortstop and allowed Crisosto to score, unearned. With Clark up at the plate next, Chapple attempted to steal second base to distract the BYU defense. When BYU made a cutoff throw to its second baseman, McCaulley made a dash for home and beat the throw at the plate. The steal was just in time as Clark flied out to center field with the next pitch.

BYU threatened Kansas’ lead in the seventh when it led off with two singles, but KU ended the inning with three pop flies to hold off the Cougars and preserve its 3-1 victory.

BYU scored its only run in the third inning off a solo home run.

Kansas softball will play again tomorrow, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m. (CST) against UC Santa Barbara. Live stats will once again be available at www.kuathletics.com.