Kansas Snaps Program-Best Win Streak at No. 12 Missouri, 10-0

March 16, 2012

Box Score

No. 12 Missouri, Kansas 0
University Field // Columbia, Mo.
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Rosie Hull went 1-for-2 in the loss.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
KU 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 1 3
MU 1 5 0 0 1 3 X 10 9 0
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Leaders – Batting
Kansas AB R H RBI BB HR
R. Hull 2 0 1 0 0 0
Missouri
C. Genovese 3 2 2 2 1 0
K. Jones 1 1 1 3 0 1
Pitching
Kansas IP H R ER BB SO
M. Druhan (L, 6-1) 1.1 4 6 4 3 1
K. Martinez 4.1 5 4 4 2 1
Missouri
C. Thomas (W, 9-1) 5.1 1 0 0 0 4
K. Nottelmann 0.1 0 0 0 0 0

COLUMBIA, Mo. – A five-run second combined with a one-hitter from All-American Chelsea Thomas was enough for No. 12 Missouri to snap Kansas softball’s program-best 20-game win streak, taking the rivals’ Big 12 Conference opener, 10-0, Friday night at University Field.

Kansas (20-3) had not lost a game in 36 days en route to building the longest winning streak in school history, before facing the No. 12 Tigers (18-3) at home. Thomas (9-1) looked the part of a USA Softball Player of Year finalist from a year ago, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings and surrendering just one hit to the visiting Jayhawks.

Junior Morgan Druhan (6-1) recorded her first loss as a Jayhawk, surrendering six runs, only four of which were earned. She departed during Missouri’s big second inning for sophomore Kristin Martinez. Martinez allowed just one run in 4.1 innings of relief until a pinch-hit home run from Missouri’s Kelsi Jones ended the game via run-rule in the bottom of the sixth.

At the plate, junior designated player Rosie Hull drilled a sharp single to left, but that was all the offense the Jayhawks would generate against Thomas. Sophomore second baseman Ashley Newman, who entered the weekend fourth in the league with a .436 batting average, snapped her 11-game hit streak on Friday.

Aside from Jones’ three-run homer, the Tigers were led by third baseman Corrin Genovese’s 2-for-3 effort with two RBIs and two runs scored.

After surrendering a leadoff walk to catcher Jenna Marston, Druhan worked two quick outs and had two strikes on clean up hitter Nicole Hudson. Hudson executed in the clean up roll, sending Druhan’s 2-2 pitch to right centerfield fence and Missouri took a 1-0 lead out of the first inning.

Another leadoff walk followed by a single got the ball rolling in the Tigers’ destructive second inning. Druhan recorded the first out, but a throw that got away scored in the first run of the frame. Marston struck again with an RBI single before a two-run double from Genovese ended Druhan’s start. The junior was replaced by Martinez, who closed out the inning. Kansas fell behind 6-0 after the Tigers’ five-run second, only three of which were earned in the inning.

In the meantime, Thomas kept the Jayhawks from mounting a comeback as last year’s Big 12 Pitcher of the Year kept KU from recording a hit until the top of the fifth. Rosie Hull smoked a line-drive single to left field to break up Thomas’ no-hit bid, but stayed stranded to end the inning.

Thomas was replaced by senior Kristin Nottelmann in the sixth, but the Jayhawks didn’t fair any better against her. She threw just five pitches to close out the Missouri win.

UP NEXT
Kansas and Missouri will square off in game two of the series Saturday afternoon at University Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. CT.