Jayhawks' Rally Falls Short Versus No. 25 Massachusetts
March 18, 2010
SAN DIEGO, Calif. –
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Kansas scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to cut a six-run deficit to 7-6, but back-to-back strikeouts by No. 25 Massachusetts ended a bases loaded situation as the Jayhawk softball team was narrowly defeated Thursday evening.
The game, which was the sixth-straight one-run game for the Jayhawks, dropped Kansas to 11-14 overall and 0-2 in the San Diego Classic II. UMass improved its mark to 12-4.
Trailing 7-1 heading into the seventh inning, KU singled and then earned four consecutive walks to score two runs and chase UMass reliever Bailey Sanders from the circle. Minutewomen starter Sara Plourde re-entered the contest but gave up three-straight singles as the Jayhawks plated three more runs to make the score 7-6. Unfortunately, Plourde struck out the final two batters to end the game with the bases loaded. Plourde finished the contest with 15 total strikeouts as she improved to 11-2 from the circle.
Junior Brittany Hile and freshmen Alex Jones and Maggie Hull each had two hits and one RBI in the game. Senior Sara Ramirez also recorded and RBI, while sophomore Kelsey Alsdorf’s pinch-hit single in the seventh inning brought in a run. Alsdorf is 2-for-4 in pinch hit situations this season.
Jones, who is now riding a six-game hitting streak, was the Jayhawks’ starting pitcher in the game but senior Sarah Vertelka entered the contest during the first inning. Vertelka (4-8) suffered the loss despite striking out a career-high eight batters. Her eight Ks topped her previous best of seven, which she recorded on March 7, 2009 versus Northern Iowa.
Overall, Kansas scattered nine hits throughout the contest and earned six walks but stranded 12 runners during the game.
Kansas will play again on Friday (tomorrow) starting at 1:30 p.m. CT versus Harvard. The Jayhawks then play later in the day at 9 p.m. CT at San Diego State.
