Jayhawks Split First Day of UNLV Softball Tournament
March 4, 2011
LAS VEGAS Nev. –
Kansas 3, San Jose State 1 Box Score 
Sophomore Mariah Montgomery hit her fifth home run of the season in the second inning to drive in what ultimately became the game-winning run as the University of Kansas softball team topped San JoseState 3-1 Friday afternoon.
The Jayhawks rebounded from a 10-7 loss to Bradley earlier in the day during the UNLV Eller Media Stadium Classic to improve their record to 15-2 on the season. San Jose fell to 8-9 overall suffering its second-straight loss of the tournament.
KU had just five hits in the contest but took advantage of its limited offensive opportunities after finding itself trailing 1-0 after one a half innings.
Heading into the bottom of the second, Kansas collected four hits, including three for extra bases, to score all three of its runs. Sophomore Maggie Hull doubled to right-center field to extend a five-game hit streak and bring home senior Brittany Hile, who also doubled to lead off the frame. Montgomery then cleared the bases with a two-run homer to left field giving the Jayhawks a 3-1 lead.
KU had just one more hit for the remainder of the game but freshman pitcher Kristin Martinez helped keep SJSU off the bases limiting the Spartans to five hits in the game, including just three through the last five frames.
Martinez also struck out a career-high seven batters and allowed just two walks as she improved to 7-0 from the circle.
Kansas returns to the diamond on Saturday, March 5 to take on UNLV at 3:30 p.m. and Troy at 8 p.m. Central.
Kansas 7, Bradley 10 Box Score
Five Jayhawks collected multiple hits but untimely errors by the Kansas defense proved costly as the Jayhawk softball team fell 10-7 to Bradley Friday morning in both teams’ first contest of the UNLV Eller Media Stadium Classic.
Three of BU’s 10 runs were unearned as KU snapped a four-game win streak and dropped to 14-2 overall. The Braves improved to 4-11 on the season.
KU trailed 8-7 after five full innings but were unable to generate any more runs for the remainder of the contest while Bradley added two more insurance runs, both unearned, in the sixth following a KU fielding error.
Senior Brittany Hile continued to excel from the batter’s box as she drove in a team-high three runs on two hits. Junior Liz Kocon, sophomores Rosie Hull and Alex Jones and freshman Ashley Newman also had two hits apiece in the game.
The game was tied 3-3 after the first three innings from a Maggie Hull solo home run and a two-run double off the left-field wall from Hile.
Unfortunately the Bradley offense exploded for seven hits in the fourth frame to help score five runs, including a three-run home run from BU’s Kate Singler.
Kansas fought back in the top of the fifth but its rally fell just short as the Jayhawks scored four runs to trail 8-7. Rosie Hull and Jones led off the inning with back-to-back singles and were plated with a Kocon double to left field. Maggie Hull then drove in Kocon and Hile for KU’s final two runs of the game when her line drive to left field was misplayed and coasted back to the fence.
The Jayhawks used three pitchers in the effort with junior transfer Ashley Spencer suffering her first loss of the season.
