KU Splits Twinbill With OSU, Gives Bunge 300th Win at KU
April 1, 2006
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LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Kansas softball picked up its first Big 12 Conference win of the season and gave head coach Tracy Bunge her 300th win at KU with a 12-0, five-inning victory over Oklahoma State Saturday at Arrocha Ballpark. After falling to the Cowgirls (16-16, 1-3), 1-0, in a frustrating eight-inning first game, the Jayhawks (18-17, 1-3) came back with 13 hits in the nightcap for the series split.
With the split, Bunge moved to 300-267-1 as head coach at KU and is just eight wins away from her 400th career victory. The Jayhawks and Cowgirls were originally scheduled to play the two-game series Saturday and Sunday, but decided on a doubleheader to avoid rain expected Sunday.
KU scored 12 runs off 13 hits, including eight runs in the second inning, to take the late game against the Cowgirls. In just two at-bats, Serena Settlemier contributed five RBI with a double and grand slam, her fourth of the season, to bring her season home run total to a school-record 16 and career mark to a program-best 38. Settlemier also moved her career RBI total to 98, good for fourth on the KU all-time list.
In the circle, Settlemier (11-4) struck out five, walked two and allowed one hit through the first three innings. Valerie George pitched the final two innings for KU, striking out four, walking one and giving up one hit.
In addition to Settlemier, Betsy Wilson and Nettie Fierros each added two hits in the nightcap while Jessica Moppin notched a two-RBI double in the top of the first. After giving up four hits and three runs in the first five at-bats of the game, OSU’s Jessica Hoppock (9-11) was relieved by Kristina Guistozzi, who gave up seven hits and walked three in one full inning. Randi Cook pitched the last 2.2 innings for the Cowgirls and walked two and allowed two hits.
In the first game, Kassie Humphreys (7-11) was spectacular in the circle for KU, striking out 12, walking four and giving up just one hit through eight innings. The only hit she allowed came in the top of the eighth to Lauren Kitchens. Kitchens singled to right, advanced to second on a throwing error, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and came in to score on a ground out (unearned).
Val Chapple led KU with two hits, but the rest of the offense was cold in the opener. The Jayhawks managed five hits but stranded eight on base and struck out 11 times at the hands of Hoppock, who got the complete-game shut out for OSU.
To hear Coach Bunge’s postgame message, call 785-864-8086.
KU will next be in action Tuesday (April 4) when it hosts Nebraska in a Big 12 match-up at Arrocha. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
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