Jayhawk Softball Splits Twinbill at UMKC

March 30, 2011

A big fourth inning provided enough offense to give the University of Kansas softball team a 4-2 win over UMKC in the nightcap Wednesday evening as the Jayhawks split its doubleheader with the Kangaroos. UMKC edged KU 2-1 in game one.

Kansas moved to 27-8 overall, while UMKC is now 18-11 on the season.

Junior Liz Kocon went 4-for-7 during the two-game series. Sophomore Rosie Hull finished 3-for-7 from the plate on the night, including a pair of hits and two RBI in the nightcap.

In the second game, the Jayhawks scored all four of their runs in the fourth inning on six hits. Senior Allie Clark allowed just three UMKC hits and fanned three batters as she improved to 11-4 from the circle.

Despite a career-high nine strikeouts from freshman pitcher Kristin Martinez (12-3) and a home run from junior Liz Kocon in game one, Kansas could not overcome an early 2-0 deficit.

UMKC’s Deanna Friese limited KU to five hits and struck out eight batters in the opening contest to improve to 13-6.

Kansas is back in action this weekend, April 2-3, when it hosts Nebraska in a Big 12 Conference series. Saturday’s contest is scheduled for 2 p.m. First pitch on Sunday is set for 1 p.m.

Game 2 Box Score in PDF Format

Game 2: Kansas 4, UMKC 2

Kansas used six hits in the fourth inning to do all of its scoring as it downed UMKC 4-2 in Wednesday’s nightcap.

Senior Brittany Hile roped a double to center field to score KU’s first run. With bases loaded, sophomore Maggie Hull slid home to beat the throw and put the Jayhawks ahead, 2-0.

Before batting through the order, sophomore Rosie Hull plated two more runs with a single up the middle.

Senior Allie Clark held the Kangaroos to just three hits and one walk and added three strikeouts to improve to 11-4.

Game 1 Box Score in PDF Format

Game 1: Kansas 1, UMKC 2

Despite a career-high nine strikeouts by freshman pitcher Kristin Martinez, UMKC edged Kansas 2-1 Wednesday in the first game of a softball doubleheader.

UMKC led off the game with four straight singles in the bottom of the first inning to jump out to a 2-0 lead but it was enough to hold off the Jayhawks.

Kansas would not counter until the top of the sixth inning when junior Liz Kocon hit a leadoff home run. The homer gave Kocon 23 for her career, which put her in a tie for fourth on KU’s all-time record list.

Kocon collected two of the team’s five hits during the contest as the Jayhawks were out-hit 12-5.

Martinez tossed all seven innings as she dropped to 12-3.