Jayhawks Lose Two in Louisville

Feb. 23, 2007

Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky. –

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas softball dropped games to KentState (4-1) and Louisville (7-1) Friday in day one of the Red and Black Tournament at Ulmer Stadium. With the pair of losses, the Jayhawks moved to 5-5-1 on the season.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

KU continues tournament play Saturday at noon against Iowa.

Kent State 4, Kansas 1

Kent State-KU Box Score

Freshman Sarah Vertelka (1-2) gave up eight hits, struck out three and walked two – both in the first frame — in her second complete-game effort. Brittney Robinson (3-0) picked up the win for the Golden Flashes, allowing four hits, striking out 12 and walking two in the seven-inning win.

Three of KU’s four hits were doubles with one apiece from freshman Sara Ramirez and sophomores Stevie Crisosto and Val Chapple. Both KU and KentState stranded five runners on base in the contest.

The Jayhawks were shaky in the top of the first, giving up three runs off two hits, two walks and an error. Robinson singled to right to lead off and Corey Houk walked, both advancing into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Jessice Toocheck. Jamie Fitzpatrick’s single scored both runners and Megan Verde followed with a walk. Amy Hair reached on a fielder’s choice and Fitzpatrick scored from second on an overthrow to third by Chapple.

KU had a chance to score in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore Dougie McCaulley walked and Crisosto doubled off the top of the left line fence. Robinson struck out the next two batters swinging to end the inning.

Kent State added to its lead in the top of the fifth with four more singles. Verde picked up her first RBI of the game, driving in Toocheck, but the Jayhawk defense held on to prevent additional runs.

Sophomore Elle Pottorf’s RBI single in the bottom of the sixth put KU on the board. With one out, Sara Ramirez doubled to center and scored on Pottorf’s base hit, her sixth RBI of the season.

Louisville 7, Kansas 1

Senior Kassie Humphreys (4-1) gave up a season-high eight hits, struck out five and walked three in five innings to take her first loss of the year. Sophomore Val George allowed one hit and struck out one in a single inning of relief.

McCaulley went 2-for-2, walked and was hit by a pitch to lead the Jayhawks at the plate. Senior Nicole Washburn also notched two hits, including a double.

Kassie Stanfill allowed three hits, struck out three and walked two in the first three innings for UL. Catherine Bishop (2-4) also gave up three hits but struck out seven in four frames of relief for the victory.

Louisville also scored in its first at-bat, posting two runs off two hits, a wild pitch and an error. Courtney Moore doubled to left center with two outs and Melissa Roth notched a base hit to begin the rally. Brittany York walked and Moore (wild pitch) and Roth (throwing error by Pottorf) scored before Chapple tagged out York in a rundown between second and third.

The Jayhawks posted their first run in the third. McCaulley was hit by a pitch to start off the inning and with two outs, Pottorf doubled off the left center fence to put two runners in scoring position for freshman Amanda Jobe. Jobe singled up the middle to score McCaulley for her fifth RBI of the season.

Roth, who was 3-for-3 in the contest, gave the Cardinals an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single. UL loaded the bases with a single up the middle and two bunt singles. York doubled to left center to drive in three more runs, giving the Cards a 6-1 lead with one out. An impressive diving catch by Ramirez and foul catch by freshman Ally Stanton ended the inning.

Brooke McCrain hit a solo home run, the first of her career, to start off the bottom of the sixth on her first pitch from George. George struck out the next batter and Chapple made two solid plays at third to end the inning, down 7-1.

2007 Softball season tickets are on sale now. Adult season tickets are $40, youth and senior citizen tickets are $20, and University of Kansas faculty and staff tickets are $32. To purchase your season tickets, call the KU Ticket Office at 800-34-HAWKS or log on to kuathletics.com.

-KU-