Jayhawk Softball Squeezes By No. 10 Cal In Extra Innings
Feb. 22, 2009
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. –
Behind a career-high 12 strikeouts from senior Val George, the Kansas softball team handed No. 10 Cal its second loss of the season as the Jayhawks edged out the Golden Bears, 3-2, in eight innings.
KU, which scored three runs on just four hits, improved to 6-8 overall following its third win over a ranked opponent this season. Meanwhile Cal dropped to 11-2 on the season.
In the bottom of the eighth inning and in accordance with the international softball tie-breaker rule, KU placed Dougie McCaulley on second base. One out later, the senior outfielder advanced to third from a sacrifice bunt laid by Val Chapple. Then, with her family looking on, designated player Allie Clark then batted in her second run of the game and game-winning RBI on a 0-2 count with a short pop fly that landed just over the shorstop’s head allowing McCaulley to cross home plate.
George tossed all eight innings against Cal giving up just six hits and walking two batters. George’s 12 K’s were the most since Kassie Humphreys fanned 12 batters on March 24, 2007, against Oklahoma State.
Trailing 2-1, Kansas knotted the score in the bottom of the third inning thanks to an RBI drive from junior Amanda Jobe. Jobe’s double down the right field line scored Clark, who reached base on a fielder’s choice and was waiting on second after a wild pitch.
Clark earned her first RBI of the season in her first at bat of the game. Stevie Crisosto led off the first inning with a single right up the middle and moved over on a wild pitch and sac bunt. Clark then squeezed a double by the Cal third baseman up the left field line to plate Crisosto and bring the Jayhawks within one as they trailed 2-1.
Cal scored two runs in the first inning on a leadoff home run and again on a single, bunt, single sequence.
The Kansas Jayhawks will wrap up the Cathedral City Classic Sunday afternoon at approximately 1:30 p.m. (CST) against Cal Poly.
