Rally Falls Short, Jayhawks Defeated at Southern Illinois
March 6, 2010
Box Score in PDF Format 
CARBONDALE, Ill. –
Despite an RBI pinch-hit single from sophomore Kelsey Alsdorf in the seventh inning, the Kansas softball team’s rally fell short as Southern Illinois defeated the Jayhawks 3-1 to conclude day one of the Coach B Classic.
KU, which defeated UIC 4-3 earlier in the day, fell to 8-9 overall. SIU improved to 11-6.
Senior pitcher Sarah Vertelka (3-5) limited the Salukis to just four hits in the complete game outing but unfortunately three of those hits occurred back-to-back-to-back in the bottom of the second inning. SIU scored its first runs on two-run homer. Later in the second inning, a Saluki runner stealing third base took advantage of a long throw to third and escaped to home plate to put SIU ahead 3-0.
Kansas’ Maggie Hull had the Jayhawks’ only hit through the first six innings, a single to shortstop in the top of the fourth frame.
After struggling to create some offense, freshman Mariah Montgomery earned a base on balls in the seventh inning and advanced on a single from junior Brittany Hile. Both runners moved ahead one bag when senior Amanda Jobe grounded out to first base. Alsdorf then stepped up to the plate as a pinch hitter where she proceeded to knock a single past the second baseman to plate Montgomery. It marked Alsdorf’s first career hit and RBI.
The Salukis ended KU’s rally in the next play striking out freshman Rosie Hull to end the game.
Kansas will wrap up the weekend on Sunday (tomorrow) morning with two games. The Jayhawks will face Western Illinois first at 9 a.m. followed by an 11 a.m. contest versus SIU-Edwardsville.
Postgame Notes
Junior pitcher Sarah Vertelka tossed her fourth complete game of the year… Sophomore Kelsey Alsdorf recorded her first career hit in the seventh inning, an RBI single… Kansas turned its third double play of the season in the sixth inning.
