KU Softball Comes Up Short at Oklahoma State
March 22, 2009
STILLWATER, Okla. –
Despite out-hitting Oklahoma State 7-5, including a 3-for-4 effort from senior Dougie McCaulley, the University of Kansas softball team could not score enough runs as it stranded 11 runners in the Jayhawks’ 6-2 loss at OSU Sunday afternoon.
KU dropped to 10-16 overall after losing two games at Oklahoma State during both teams’ conference series opener. OSU won its seventh straight game as it improved to 25-6 on the season and 2-0 in Big 12 play.
Four Jayhawks recorded at least one hit in the contest led by McCaulley with three for her second game with three hits this season. McCaulley finished 4-for-7 over the weekend as she improved her batting average by 30 points to .276. Senior Val Chapple also had a multi-hit outing with a pair of doubles.
Playing with a five-run deficit after four innings, KU put its only runs on the board in the top of the fifth inning off three hits.
Chapple started the rally with a two-out double to left center field and then stole third while sophomore Allie Clark earned a base on balls. Junior Amanda Jobe scored Chapple on a single through the left side and sophomore Liz Kocon followed with an RBI single up the middle to score Kolby Fesmire, who pinch ran for Clark.
Oklahoma State scored five of its six runs on three home runs and plated another run on an illegal pitch by starting pitcher Sarah Vertelka.
George entered in the first inning for Vertelka and allowed just five hits in the contest while striking out eight batters, her highest number of K’s in a six-inning outing this season. Vertelka allowed two runs in the opening frame as she fell to 3-3 from the circle with the loss.
The Jayhawks take a break from conference action this week with three mid-week games. KU hosts Missouri State Tuesday, March 24 in a 3 p.m. contest and then welcomes Creighton on Wednesday for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
