Softball Erases Five-Run Deficit but Falls in Final Inning
March 13, 2010
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Box Score in PDF Format 
Despite rallying back with two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 5-5, a bases loaded single in the bottom of the frame gave Valparaiso the game-winning hit as Kansas softball was defeated 6-5.
The game was KU’s second contest of the KU Invitational and are now 1-1 on the weekend and 10-11 overall. Valpo concluded the tournament 2-1 as it improved to 15-6 on the season.
Although they were playing on their home field, the Jayhawks were the visiting team during Saturday afternoon’s tournament game. Down 5-3 in the final inning, junior Allie Clark and freshman Mariah Montgomery each drove in one run a piece to knot the score.
Senior Sara Ramirez led of the frame with a single towards third base and scored off a triple by Clark, her second of the season. One out later, Montgomery plated Clark with a single to right field to make the score 5-5. Before the inning was over, sophomore Kelsey Alsdorf reached base on a walk and senior Amanda Jobe made it to first base on an error. During the same play, senior Alicia Irwin (pinch running for Montgomery) was tagged out at the plate in her attempt to sneak home on the errant play at first thus ending the inning.
Valparaiso loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of singles and an intentional walk. VU’s Sadie Conner stepped up to the plate and loaded the count before knocking a long fly ball to the fence in right field giving teammate Jordan Rutkowski plenty of time to score from third base and end the game.
KU was out-hit 12-10 in the contest and stranded nine base runners. Eight of the Jayhawks’ nine starters got at least one hit. Jobe and Montgomery led the team with two hits a piece.
Facing an early 5-0 deficit, Jobe cut the Crusaders’ lead to two with a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning. It was her first round-tripper of the season while simultaneously moving her into sixth on KU’s career home run list along with Val Chapple (2006-09).
Freshman Alex Jones tossed the first 1.3 innings and allowed two runs before Clark came in to pitch. Clark dropped to 3-2 from the circle.
Cold weather conditions canceled Kansas’ second contest of the day versus Missouri State. On Sunday, the Jayhawks will conclude its KU Invitational with a doubleheader versus Missouri State. The first game will now start at noon instead of 11 a.m.
As a reminder, Sunday, March 14 begins daylight savings time and clocks need to be turned ahead one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday morning.
Postgame Notes
-Sophomore Kelsey Alsdorf is riding a three-game hitting streak and has five hits in her last five games.
-Senior Amanda Jobe hit her first home run of the season while simultaneously moving into sixth on the KU career home run list. She now has 18 career homers along with former player Val Chapple (2006-09).
-Junior Allie Clark cranked out her second triple this year and is one of only three Big 12 conference players with multiple triples so far this season.
-Kansas reach double-digit hits for the third time this season collecting 10 hits versus Valparaiso.
