Big Inning Dooms Kansas Softball

March 27, 2010

Box Score

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – –

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Sophomore Marissa Ingle hit a two-out, solo home run in the fifth inning to knot the score at 4-4, but a big sixth inning by No. 19/17 Texas A&M pushed the Aggies past Kansas 12-4 in both teams’ Big 12 Conference softball opener.

The Jayhawks dropped to 14-16 overall while TAMU improved to 28-7.

Kansas senior Amanda Jobe hit her second home run of the season in the top of the fourth inning with two outs to score two runs and bring KU within one at 4-3. During the next frame, Ingle came through with another two-out round-tripper, her third home run of the year, to knot the score.

The Aggies retired three straight Jayhawks in the top of the sixth before rallying for eight runs on three hits and four walks in the bottom of the inning. TAMU’s Maegan May had the game-ending hit, a grand slam over the right field wall, for her league-leading 15th homer of the season. May also leads the league in hits and walks.

Of Texas A&M’s 12 runs, six of the final tallies were unearned after an error in the KU infield.

Ingle plated KU’s first run of the game in the third inning. Her two-out single to left-center field scored Sara Ramirez, who led off the frame with a double. Kansas scored three of its four runs with two outs.

Despite the outcome, the Jayhawks received a good performance from starting pitcher Allie Clark. Clark tossed the first two and 1/3 innings and tied a season-high five strikeouts before a line drive up the middle hit her in the head. Although she was not hurt, senior Sarah Vertelka came in to relieve Clark and ultimately suffered the loss dropping to 5-10.

Clark worked out of two crucial situations at the start of the game. In the first inning, the 6-0 hurler struck out the last two batters looking to strand two runners in scoring position. In the next frame, the bases were loaded but Clark came through with a huge strikeout to end the threat.

The Jayhawks and Aggies wrap up the series with an 11 a.m. contest on Sunday.

Postgame Notes

— Amanda Jobe hit her second home run of the season and 19th of her career.

— Marissa Ingle recorded her third homer of the year.

— Allie Clark tied a season-high five strikeouts in just two and 1/3 innings of work.