Strong Second Inning Lifts Jayhawks to 8-6 Win Over WIU
March 2, 2008
CARBONDALE, Ill. –
Seven different Jayhawks scored runs as <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas softball defeated Western Illinois 8-6 during the Coach B Southern Classic here Sunday morning.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Kansas, who improves to 2-1 in the tournament, is now 14-5 overall. Western Illinois continues its search for its first win as they are 0-8 on the season.
Western Illinois’ Lori Pankratz walked four straight batters in the opening stanza to help the Jayhawks onto the scoreboard for an early 1-0 lead. KU quickly ran up the score in its next at-bat recording four hits and taking advantage of two Westerwind errors to score six more runs in the top of the second inning capped off with a three-run homer from junior catcher Elle Pottorf, her first of the year. Pottorf also breaks into the KU record books with 14 career home runs joining three former Jayhawks in the number 10 spot.
Freshman Allie Clark smashed a home run of her own, a solo shot over the left field fence in the fifth inning, extending KU’s lead to 8-1.
Western Illinois, having put its first run on the board in the third with a stolen base and a pair of hits, exploded for six runs on five hits in the bottom of the sixth to reduce the Jayhawks’ lead to two at 8-6. Junior pitcher Val George came in to relieve freshman starter Allie Clark and ended the inning with a strikeout and groundout, while stranding WIU’s tying runners on second and third. In the Westerwinds’ final at-bat, George retired the first two batters and a pop up to shortstop Kolby Fesmire ended the contest.
Clark records the win and is 4-2 from the circle. George earned her first save of the year striking out three of the six batters she faced.
In addition to Pottorf and Clark, Dougie McCaulley, Brittany Hile and Fesmire tallied RBIs during the game. McCaulley also led the team going 3-for-4 from the batter’s box.
The Jayhawks play in the day’s next game against Bradley at approximately 11:30 a.m. Live stats available at http://siusalukis.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/southern-classic.html.
