Jayhawks Split in Opening Day of Invite

March 9, 2007

Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas softball defeated Drake, 4-2, and fell to North Dakota State, 4-0, Friday to open the 2007 Jayhawk Invitational at Arrocha Ballpark. The Jayhawks, who played their first 18 games of the season on the road, moved to 12-7-1 overall. KU continues tournament action Saturday against New Mexico (4-7) at 11:45 a.m.

Kansas 4, Drake 2 Box Score

Freshman Amanda Jobe totaled three of the Jayhawks’ nine hits as KU defeated the Bulldogs, 4-2, in its home opener. Sophomore Dougie McCaulley and freshman Ally Stanton each added two hits and sophomore righty Valerie George picked up her third win of the season.

George (3-2) struck out three, walked four and allowed nine hits through six and one-third inning to take the win. Senior Kassie Humphreys fanned one Bulldog and gave up one hit in two-thirds of an inning to claim her second save of the year.

Drake’s Mandy Osborn (4-6) gave up seven hits, walked four and struck out three through five non-consecutive innings to take the loss. Stefanie Clayton pitched the fourth and fifth innings, allowing two hits, striking out one and walking one.

Jobe’s single to left added to KU’s advantage in the top of the third. Sophomore Stevie Crisosto walked, moved to second on a fielder’s choice and score on Jobe’s knock. KU came away with two runs in the inning, taking a 3-0 lead.

The Bulldogs threatened with two runs in the bottom seventh as the designated home team, but Humphreys struck out the last batter swinging with bases loaded to preserve the win.

North Dakota State 4, Kansas 0 Box Score

Freshman Sarah Vertelka (2-3) struck out three, walked two and allowed just two hits (one earned run) in five and one-third inning to take the loss. Humphreys fanned four batters and gave up one hit in one and two-thirds innings of relief.

NSDU’s Allison Bakke (8-2) was solid for the Bison, striking out a game-high 11, walking four and holding KU to just three hits for the complete-game shutout. Kelly Cantrell picked up two of the Bison’s three hits in the win.

Vertelka held the Bison scoreless until the top of the sixth when NDSU posted four runs on two hits and an error. Grete Peterson reached on a throwing error by Crisosto and advanced to second. Jennifer Morse and Lynnae Foshag walked to load the bases for Cantrell, who notched an RBI single to right. Humphreys came in to relieve Vertelka with one out, but a wild pitch in the dirt allowed Morse to score from third and Jackie Currie’s base hit to right brought in two more Bison.

Crisosto, sophomore Erika Simington and junior Betsy Wilson added hits for KU. The Jayhawks couldn’t finish offensively, stranding seven on base in the loss.

Other Friday Jayhawk Invitational Scores

New Mexico 5, Drake 4
New Mexico 9, North Dakota State 1 (5)

-KU-