Kansas Uses Big Outing from Druhan to Down Delaware State, 6-1
March 10, 2012
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In the last meeting of the weekend with Delaware State, the Kansas softball team used a season-best 11 strikeouts from junior starter Morgan Druhan to end day two of the Osprey Classic with a 6-1 victory.
Kansas (19-2) broke the program’s longest win streak in the previous game on Saturday and was able to extend it to 19-straight wins as the Jayhawks picked up their third win in two days against Delaware State (4-8).
Druhan (6-0), who has yet to record a loss at Kansas after transferring from South Alabama this fall, threw her third complete game of the season. Her 11 strikeouts set a new game-high as a Jayhawk, while walking two and allowing just two hits. The only run she gave up in the nightcap was unearned.
At the plate, junior shortstop Mariah Montgomery manufactured a pair of runs, driving in one a fielder’s choice RBI and the other using a sac fly to right field. Freshman first baseman Maddie Stein collected the first multi-RBI game of her career with a two-run double in the bottom of the first.
The Jayhawks’ powerful one-two combo at the top of the lineup provided another game of solid output. Sophomore second baseman Ashley Newman went 1-for-3, giving her at least one hit in 19 of KU’s 21 games. Meanwhile, junior left fielder Maggie Hull cranked out her second three-hit game of 2012.
Once again, the Jayhawk bats got hot in a hurry, putting up five runs in the first two innings to put the game away early. In the bottom of the first, the dependable Newman and Maggie Hull combo kicked off the game with back-to-back singles. Newman advanced to second on her 15th stolen base of the season and each came home on RBIs from Montgomery and redshirt senior Liz Kocon. A two-run double from freshman Maddie Stein wrapped up the four-run first inning.
A leadoff walk to sophomore centerfielder Elsa Moyer opened the bottom of the second, and she moved around on a stolen base and later scored on Montgomery’s second RBI of the game.
Druhan worked efficiently through the first four innings, keeping the Hornets off the board while her offense provided run support. In fact, the only run charged to the junior transfer was a result of a passed ball that broke up the shutout in the top of the fifth.
The Jayhawks responded to the Hornets’ only run by scoring one more time in the bottom half of the fifth. Senior Marissa Ingle drove in Stein with a sharp RBI single, completing all the offensive support Druhan would need.
She worked a 1-2-3 inning, that included two more strikeouts, in the top of the seventh to wrap up the 6-1 victory.
Head Coach Megan Smith Quotes
On breaking the program’s 17-game win streak record in game one:
“We tried to take the same approach every time we went out,” head coach Megan Smith said of breaking the streak. “Now we’ll continue to do the same thing. It’s a big accomplishment and our girls are extremely excited that were able to do that. So now we’re going to keep the same approach and go out and focus on each game; do what we need to do to be successful.”
On the teamwork needed for the 1-0 victory that broke the record:
“It wasn’t our best game, and wasn’t a dynamic game for us in terms of offensive performance but we got the run we needed and Alicia really gutted it out and showed toughness today in the circle.”
On Morgan Druhan’s complete-game performance in game two:
“It was a great day for Morgan. She did a really great job with her pitches and was mixing speeds a lot, which worked for her today and we were happy to see her to that. She looked good today. She kept them off balance and controlled her pitches extremely well.”
On the big two-run double from freshman Maddie Stein in game two:
“We feel really confident in Maddie at the plate. She is a huge offensive threat for us, she goes up there and attacks pitches. She had a big hit today and we expect that from her every time she steps in – we’re that confident in her.”
SCHEDULE
Friday, March 9
vs. Delaware State, W, 5-2
vs. Delaware State, W, 17-1 (5)
Saturday, March 10
vs. North Florida, W, 1-0
vs. Delaware State, W, 6-1
Sunday, March 11
vs. North Florida, 9 a.m. CT
