Softball Powers Past Louisiana Tech, 11-3
March 16, 2008
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Eight Jayhawks combined for 12 hits as the <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas softball team defeated Louisiana Tech, 11-3, in five innings during the final contest of the Kansas Invitational. KU, who has won nine of its last 10 games, improves to 21-6, while the Lady Techsters fall to 16-14 overall.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
In the top of the fifth inning, Kansas led 9-1 and needed just one more out to end the game early with a run-rule, but Louisiana Tech’s Amberly Waits knocked a two-run shot over the center field fence to prevent the game from ending just yet.
In the bottom of the fifth, Dougie McCaulley doubled to left field sending Amanda Jobe, who had led off the inning with a single past the second baseman, over to third. Val Chapple proceeded to tally her third RBI of the game and 13th of the weekend with a sacrifice fly to the left fielder that scored Jobe. With McCaulley now on third and the Jayhawks one run away from a run-rule, the Lady Techsters’ Wanda Malone threw a pitch high and past the catcher allowing McCaulley to cross home plate as KU won 11-3.
Kansas scattered nine hits over the first three innings to jump to its early 9-1 lead, including five runs in the second. Louisiana Tech had just two hits through the first three innings and six for the game.
Chapple and Ally Stanton led the Jayhawks’ offensive efforts batting in three runs a piece, a career high for Stanton. Three Kansas players finished with multiple hits led by McCaulley, who was 3-for-4 from the plate as she also has a team-high 11 multi-hit contests. Jobe and Stanton each added two hits, while Brittany Hile, Liz Kocon, Betsy Wilson, Sara Ramirez and Chapple all had one hit as the Jayhawks racked up 12 during the contest. Jobe, Chapple and McCaulley all extended their hitting streaks to five games.
Val George pitched three complete innings from the circle to improve to 10-1. The junior hurler struck out six of the 11 batters she faced and gave up two hits, one walk and an earned run. Allie Clark and Sarah Vertelka both saw time in relief in the game.
Kansas will wrap up its nine-game homestand Tuesday when they host Bradley in a doubleheader scheduled for 3 p.m.
