Jayhawks Drop Doubleheader To Shockers
March 31, 2005
WICHITA, Kan. –
Despite 15 hits by the offense, the University of Kansas softball team dropped a doubleheader to Wichita State, 5-4, in eight innings, and 7-3, Thursday at Wilkins Stadium. With the non-conference losses, the Jayhawks fell to 15-13 overall while the Shockers moved to 22-11 on the season.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
In game one, the Jayhawks scored first in the top of the third on a hit and error. With one out, Heather Stanley reached on a dropped ball by the Shocker third baseman, moved to second on a base hit by Cyndi Duran and advanced to third on a passed ball.
Jessica Moppin flew out to right field and Stanley was able to tag up despite a good throw and rundown attempt by WSU.
The Shockers tied the game in the next half of the inning when Ashley Lynn hit a double to left center and came home on a single by Julie Darling.
KU regained the lead in the fourth with two runs on three hits. Serena Settlemier knocked out a solo home run into the wind of left field, her fifth of the season and 18th of her career.
Elle Pottorf singled to right and was replaced by pinch runner Jackie Vasquez, who stole second. Nettie Fierros walked in the next at-bat and Kassie Humphreys followed with a double to score Vasquez and give KU the 3-1 lead.
WSU tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on a hit, two walks and two hit batters. With bases loaded, no outs and a 2-2 count, Christina Ross came in to relieve Settlemier. Ross struck out her first batter and popped up the next, but walked Cynthia Verhulst and clipped pinch hitter Tawnya Guthrie, allowing two Shockers to score.
Per the international tie-breaker rule, Destiny Frankenstein was placed on second in the top of the eighth. Settlemier singled and Frankenstein was able to tag up on a sacrifice fly by Pottorf and give KU a 4-3 lead.
The Shockers scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice bunt, walk, hit batter, error and game-winning hit by Darling.
Settlemier gave up five hits, struck out four and walked three in the first four innings while Ross (5-4) struck out four, gave up four hits and walked two in the last 3.2 for the loss.
The KU offense managed 10 hits but left eight on base while the Shockers stranded 14.
In the nightcap, the Jayhawks jumped to a 2-0 lead in the third. Vasquez and Stanley singled and were put in scoring position by Duran’s sacrifice bunt. Moppin followed with a single to score both runners and give KU the advantage.
WSU followed suit in the bottom of the fourth and tied the game. The first two Shocker batters walked, advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a tough infield base hit by Lisa Jones.
Duran and Moppin led off the top of the sixth with base hits and Settlemier was intentionally walked to load the bases. Pottorf was hit by a pitch for the second time of the game to score Duran and give KU a 3-2 lead.
The Shockers blew open the game in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs off four hits, including a solo home run by Stephanie De La Riva. KU could not come back in its last at-bat and fell by four.
Humphreys (3-4) gave up six hits, struck out three and walked three in the first 5.1 innings of play. Settlemier faced the last four batters and allowed one hit.
KU (15-13, 0-2 Big 12) will next be in action at 2 p.m. Saturday to open a league series with No. 6 Texas A&M (32-2, 3-0 Big 12) at Arrocha Ballpark.
-KU-
