Kansas Wins Tenth-Straight, Takes Down Tournament Host, 9-1

Feb. 25, 2012

Box Score

Kansas 9, UNC-Wilmington 1 (5)
Seahawk Classic
Boseman Field // Wilmington, N.C.
022512aaa_642_7433701.jpeg
Freshman pitcher Alicia Pille struck out seven and walked one in the first game of the day.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
UNCW 0 0 0 1 0 X X 1 2 3
KU 9 0 0 0 X X X 9 5 0
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Leaders – Batting
Kansas AB R H RBI BB HR
M. Hull 3 2 1 3 1 1
M. Ingle 3 1 1 1 1 0
UNC-Wilmington
K. Eddinger 2 1 1 1 0 1
L. Sykes 2 0 1 0 0 0
Pitching
Kansas IP H R ER BB SO
A. Pille (W, 5-2) 5 2 1 1 1 7
UNC-Wilmington;
C. Rowland (L, 0-4) 1 5 9 7 4 0
A. Davenport 3 0 0 0 1 1

WILMINGTON, N.C. –For the third time in two seasons, the Kansas softball team posted a 10-game win streak when the Jayhawks erupted for a nine-run first inning to defeat the Seahawk Classic host, UNC Wilmington on Saturday afternoon, 9-1.

Kansas (10-2) jumped on the gas pedal from first pitch – racking up nine runs in its first at bat. Of the first nine batters who stepped to the plate for Kansas, eight of them scored as the Jayhawks batted around in their first opportunity.

Junior left fielder Maggie Hull accounted for four of the runs in the opening frame, reaching twice in the inning. In her first trip to the plate, Hull drew a walk and darted home on an errant throw. Her next plate appearance, however, was more productive as the lefty pulled a three-run homer over the wall in right centerfield. Hull’s second bomb of the season capped the nine-run inning, knocking in freshmen Chanin Naudin and Cassen Salamone.

Sophomore second baseman Ashley Newman got the ball rolling when she beat out a bunt single and was quickly joined on the bases by Maggie Hull. Junior shortstop Mariah Montgomery and senior first baseman Marissa Ingle chipped in singles, and freshman catcher Lexi Bryantroped a double to help fuel the explosive inning. When the dust cleared, KU scored nine runs on five hits and a pair of costly errors.

Freshman Alicia Pille(5-2) recorded her fifth win in as many decisions, throwing all five and allowing two hits. A solo shot by UNCW’s Kelsey Eddinger to lead off the fourth marked the only run the rookie allowed, while striking out seven and walking one.

Following the Jayhawks’ big start, the Seahawks replaced starter Casey Rowland (0-4) with reliever Amanda Davenport. Davenport did her part to keep KU’s bats quiet, throwing three shutout innings. Her offense couldn’t keep the game from ending early, and Kansas took the game in five, 9-1.

UP NEXT
Kansas earned the No. 1 tournament seed with a 3-0 record and will turnaround to face UNC-Wilmington immediately following game one.

SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 24
vs. Fairfield: W, 5-3 vs. Gardner-Webb: W, 5-1
Saturday, Feb. 25
vs. UNC Wilmington: W, 9-1 (5)
vs. UNC Wilmington: 1:45 p.m. CT
Sunday, Feb. 26
vs. Bracket Play Decision, TBA