March 10, 2007

Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas softball picked up a pair of victories over New Mexico (5-0) and North DakotaState (3-2, 10 innings) Saturday in the second day of the Jayhawk Invitational. With the wins, the Jayhawks improved to 14-7-1 overall and 3-1 at home this season. KU will face the winner of Saturday’s Drake-New Mexico game Sunday at approximately 1 p.m. for the tournament title.

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Kansas 5, New Mexico 0 Box score

Kansas defeated New Mexico 5-0 to earn the #1 seed after round-robin play of the 2007 Jayhawk Invitational. Kansas outhit the Lobos six to two and capitalized on New Mexico miscues to open up a close ballgame. Shutting out the Lobos was KU senior Kassie Humphreys (9-2), who gave up just two hits through seven innings for the victory.

Sophomore Val Chapple’s RBI double to left center put Kansas on the board in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, freshman Amanda Jobe doubled to center, her third of the season, and Chapple followed with the RBI knock. The Jayhawks are 13-0 this season when scoring first.

KU added to its lead with three runs off one hit and two errors in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Ally Stanton led off with a walk and advanced to third on a base hit by sophomore Dougie McCaulley, her second of the game. Both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by senior Nicole Washburn.

Stanton scored and McCaulley moved to third on a wild pitch by Tori Rogers. Sophomore Stevie Crisosto walked and sophomore Tiffany Craner drove a pitch to the centerfielder, who dropped the catch and then overthrew in an attempt to throw out Craner at second. McCaulley and Crisosoto both scored on the pair of errors.

New Mexico threatened only once with runners on in scoring position in the fourth inning, but Humphreys retired the side. She ended with a season-high 12 strikeouts and two walks. McCaulley, Jobe and Chapple paced the Kansas offense with two hits each.

Kansas 3, North DakotaState 2 (10 innings) Box score

Junior Betsy Wilson’s RBI single in the bottom of the 10th lifted KU to a 3-2 win over North DakotaState in the nightcap. Sophomore Valerie George pitched eight innings for the Jayhawks, surrendering only two runs on four hits. Humphreys (9-2) came in with a 1-1 tie, struck out one and walked one in two innings for her ninth win of the season.

North Dakota State junior Allison Bakke (8-2) pitched all 10 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out five.

The Bison began the scoring in the sixth inning behind sophomore Kelly Cantrell’s single to right field that brought home sophomore Grete Peterson. Peterson reached on a bunt single and then stole second.

Kansas answered North DakotaState’s run in the bottom of the sixth with a run of their own. Crisosto got on base on an error by the Bison second baseman. Chapple’s sacrifice bunt moved Crisosto to second. Sophomore Elle Pottorf’s hard hit single blew past the shortstop to bring Crisosto home.

In the eighth inning, NDSU struck first with a Peterson double to deep left that brought home Bison leadoff hitter senior Lynnae Foshag. Kansas answered in the bottom half when Wilson moved on a sacrifice bunt by McCaulley and sacrifice fly by Crisosto. Wilson’s run tied the game again at two.

Humphreys entered the game in the ninth and recorded three outs in just three pitches. The Jayhawks scored the decisive run in the bottom of the 10th. Freshman Ally Stanton, who had a team-leading two hits in the game, was placed on second per the international tie-breaker rule. Stanton advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on Wilson’s walk-off single to center for the KU win.

Other Saturday Jayhawk Invitational Scores

Drake 4, North DakotaState 3

Night game suspended – New Mexico 4, Drake 4 after five innings (will resume at 10 a.m. Sunday)