KU Softball Begins SIU Classic 2-0
March 5, 2005
CARBONDALE, Ill. –
The University of Kansas softball team totaled 18 hits as its defeated Ball State, 8-1, and host Southern Illinois, 5-4 in eight innings, Saturday at the Kay Brechtelsbauer Classic. With the victories, KU moved to 9-7 on the season and stretched its win streak to three.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
KU totaled a season-best 12 hits while all 14 Jayhawks saw action in the early game versus the Cardinals. Junior Jessica Moppin led the way by going 3-for-3 with a double and four Jayhawks tallied two hits in the win.
The Jayhawks jumped on top 3-0 with three hits in their first at-bat. Freshman Cyndi Duran led off with a walk and junior Destiny Frankenstein hit a home run to left, her second of the season and ninth of her career.
With two outs, freshman Elle Pottorf doubled to score junior Nettie Fierros, who reached on a base hit down the right line, and give KU the early advantage.
Junior Ashley Goodrich sealed the victory in the bottom of the sixth with her first career home run, a three-run shot over the left field wall.
Freshman Christina Ross (3-3) struck out nine, walked three and held the Cardinals hitless in the first five innings to pick up the win. Senior reliever Kathy McVey struck out six and allowed three hits in the final two innings. The duo struck out 15 of their 24 Ball State batters faced.
After a two-hour break, KU and Southern Illinois faced off with the Salukis taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first off a two-run homer. The Jayhawks cut the lead with a run in the bottom of the third off a base hit by Frazer and an SIU error.
SIU scored again in the fifth but KU fought back with two runs in the sixth. Duran reached on an error and Frankenstein blasted her second home run of the day over the center field wall, tying the game at 3-all.
The Salukis scored in the top half of the eighth inning on a double to score the placed runner from second and take a 4-3 lead.
KU ended the game by scoring two runs off three hits in the bottom of the eighth. Freshman Jackie Vasquez was placed on second and moved to third on an infield hit (bunt) by Duran. Frankenstein continued her heroics with a single to left to score Vasquez and Moppin advanced the two runners with a sacrifice grounder. Junior Serena Settlemier knocked a single through the left side to score Duran from third and give KU the win.
In addition to her game-winning hit, Settlemier (5-2) struck out six and allowed four hits in the last 6.2 innings of the game for her fourth straight victory. Sophomore Kassie Humphreys started the contest and allowed three hits, struck out two and walked two in 1.2 innings.
Settlemier and Frankenstein combined for four of the Jayhawks’ six hits. Both teams committed two errors each while KU left five on base and SIU left nine.
KU will wrap up tournament play Sunday against Valparaiso at 10 a.m. and play in the championship game against Southern Illinois at 4 p.m.
