Five Jayhawks Combine For Eight RBI as KU Softball Tops Western Illinois
March 17, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Junior Sara Ramirez and sophomore Allie Clark recorded a home run for the Kansas softball team as the Jayhawks defeated Western Illinois, 9-4, at Arrocha Ballpark on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon.
Kansas collected all nine of its runs on just six hits, while taking advantage of three Westerwind errors, as the Jayhawks improved to 10-14 overall heading into Big 12 Conference play. WIU fell to 8-11 as its four-game winning streak came to an end.
The Jayhawks did the majority of their scoring in the bottom of the third inning off a pair of home runs and a fielding error. Ramirez got the offense started with her first home run of the season to score two runs. Later in the inning, Clark proceeded with another homer, her third round-tripper in the last five games, to plate three more runs for KU.
Before the end of the inning, sophomore Liz Kocon would help bring in Kansas’ sixth run with a grounder through the legs of Western Illinois’ second baseman to bring home junior Amanda Jobe (double to left center wall).
The Westerwinds, who homered in the second inning to score its first run, countered with a three-run effort in its next at bat to come within two of the Jayhawks as KU led 6-4, but Kansas responded with another rally in the bottom of the fourth inning.
KU scored three runs on two hits and one Western Illinois error. Senior Dougie McCaulley brought in the first run with an RBI single to shallow left field, her second hit of the day. Fellow senior Val Chapple stepped up next and hit a fielder’s choice to the third baseman. However, WIU’s third baseman made a bad throw to home plate allowing Ramirez to score and giving McCaulley enough time to make it to home plate as she slid just out of reach of the ensuing tag from the catcher.
Junior pitcher Sarah Vertelka and the KU defense held Western Illinois scoreless over the next three innings despite five hits by the Westerwinds.
Kansas will open its Big 12 Conference schedule this weekend, March 21-22, at Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks are scheduled to play OSU at 7 p.m. Saturday night followed by a 2 p.m. contest Sunday afternoon.
