KU Tops Minnesota, Falls to Eastern Michigan

March 10, 2006

Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas softball opened the 2006 Jayhawk Classic with a 2-1 loss to Eastern Michigan and 6-3 win over Minnesota Friday at Arrocha Ballpark. With the split, KU moved to 12-11 overall.

Friday Results

Portland State 7, Eastern Michigan 3
Portland State 1, Minnesota 0
Eastern Michigan 2, KU 1
KU 6, Minnesota 3

In the Jayhawks’ first game against the Eagles, EMU scored a run in the bottom of the first on a pair of bunts and two throwing errors by freshman Valerie George. Despite the errors, George struck out and grounded out the next two batters to hold EMU’s lead to one.

EMU (6-12) increased its lead to two in the bottom of the third when Heather Giroux led off with a triple to left and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ashley Strauss. KU scored its only run of the game in the fifth off a hit and EMU error. Freshman catcher Erika Simington reached on an error and was replaced by pinch runner Tiffany Craner. Craner stole second and senior Heather Stanley doubled to right to score her, 2-1.

The KU offense was cold through much of the game, posting just three hits. The Jayhawks are 0-6 on the season when totaling four or less hits in a game.

George (0-2) gave up three hits and both earned runs, struck out two and walked none in four innings while junior Kassie Humphreys struck out three and held the Eagles hitless in two innings of relief. EMU’s Nikki Denman (2-3) allowed three hits, struck out two and walked two in the complete-game victory.

Senior Jessica Moppin notched a solo home run in the bottom of the second to give KU a 1-0 lead over Minnesota in the nightcap. The dinger was her fourth of the season and 28th of her career.

The Jayhawks added to their lead with three runs off three hits in the third. Senior Ashley Goodrich, who led KU with two hits against the Gophers, singled to lead off the inning. Freshman Val Chapple laid down a sacrifice bunt to advanced Goodrich and Stanley singled up the middle to move her to third. Senior Destiny Frankenstein notched a sac fly to right to score Goodrich and senior Serena Settlemier knocked out her 10th homer of the season for two more RBI.

Minnesota (8-11) threatened with a combined three runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Five Gophers notched hits off Settlemier and two Jayhawks committed errors, but Minnesota stranded four on base in the two-inning rally.

KU secured the win with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Moppin reached on a Gopher error and advanced to third on a ground out and wild pitch. Humphreys walked and stole second and junior Nicole Washburn and Goodrich walked to score Moppin (RBI). Chapple recorded an infield single to score Humphreys and give the Jayhawks a 6-3 advantage.

Settlemier (7-3) extended her win streak to five, giving up six hits, striking out three and walking none (one earned run) in 4.1 innings of work. Humphreys struck out four and gave up one hit in 2.2 innings for her second save of the season. The Gophers used four pitchers and starter Katie Dalen (3-4) allowed four hits in 2.2 innings for the loss.

The Jayhawks continue tournament play Saturday against Portland State (2 p.m.) and Eastern Michigan (4 p.m.).

-KU-