Hile, Clark Homer in Kansas Softball's 5-2 Loss to SIUE
March 7, 2010
CARBONDALE, Ill. –
Box Score in PDF Format 
Juniors Allie Clark and Brittany Hile each recorded a home run versus SIU-Edwardsville Sunday afternoon but it was not enough as the Cougars defeated KU 5-2 in the Jayhawks’ final contest of the Coach B Classic.
The loss dropped Kansas to 9-10 overall as it finished the weekend 2-2. The Jayhawks won their first game of the day 3-0 versus Western Illinois. SIUE remained undefeated in the tournament with a 3-0 mark as it improved to 9-8 on the season.
“We played very well this weekend up until this last game,” said head coach Megan Smith. “We just were not as sharp against SIUE. But we did get good performances from our pitching staff this weekend. We felt like they really made the most of their opportunities.”
Five different Jayhawks collected one hit in the game, including solo home runs from both Hile and Clark.
Hile picked up her third round-tripper of the season in the fourth inning to cut the Cougars’ lead to 3-1. Clark recorded her fourth homer of the year in the sixth inning with a two-out shot over the center field fence. It marked her 15th career home run as she cracked the KU top 10 career home run list.
Freshman Maggie Hull and sophomores Marissa Ingle and Kelsey Alsdorf also had one hit a piece in the game. Alsdorf finished 2-for-4 on the day after making her first two career starts on Sunday.
SIUE used mostly base hits to out-score Kansas as eight of the Cougars’ 10 hits were singles.
Senior Sarah Vertelka (3-6) tossed the complete game, her fifth of the season, and collected a season-high six strikeouts.
Kansas opens its home season next weekend, March 11-13, in the KU Invitational.
“We are excited to play at home next weekend,” Smith said. “We have a brand new infield and it is really nice. It will be nice to sleep in our own beds and have our own fans at our games.”
Postgame Notes
Junior Brittany Hile recorded her third home run of the season… Junior Allie Clark hit her fourth homer of the season and 15th of her career to crack KU’s career top 10 home run list… Senior Sarah Vertelka struck out a season-high six batters.
