Lady Bears Hold Off Late Jayhawk Rally to Win, 5-3

April 1, 2007

Box Score |

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Despite a late-inning rally, Kansas softball lost a tough 5-3 decision to visiting Big 12 Conference foe No. 12/16 Baylor Sunday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark. The Jayhawks (25-11-1, 2-2 Big 12) got home runs from freshman Sara Ramirez (solo) and sophomore Elle Pottorf (two-run), but it was not enough as the Lady Bears (34-9, 4-0) extended their win streak to eight games.

KU continues its five-game home stand Tuesday when it hosts Arkansas in a non-conference doubleheader (2 p.m.) and Wednesday when league rival Nebraska (3 p.m.) visits Arrocha Ballpark.

BU posted the first score in the second when Brette Reagan doubled, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a double-steal. Reagan repeated with a two-RBI double in her next at-bat, giving the Lady Bears a 3-1 lead. Starting pitcher Kirsten Shortbridge walked to lead off and Tia Wesley notched a slap infield single prior to Reagan’s two-bagger in the top of the third.

Ramirez notched her fourth homer of the season to left in the bottom of the third to put the Jayhawks back in the game. BU’s Alex Colyer singled to shortstop and Kelsey Sage homered to center in the top of the fourth to make the Jayhawks’ deficit four.

The KU offense picked up in the sixth and seventh innings, posting a double (senior Nicole Washburn), single to right (sophomore Stevie Crisosto) and home run (Pottorf) off Shortbridge until her departure after six innings. Lisa Ferguson came in to face freshman Amanda Jobe with no outs and Shortbride made a diving catch in right field for the out. Ramirez hit a high ball down the left line that was just foul, coming just inches away from her second home run of the day in the bottom of the seventh.

Senior Kassie Humphreys (12-5) gave up five hits and walked two in three and one-third inning to take the loss. With her four strikeouts on the day, Humphreys surpassed KU head coach Tracy Bunge’s career strikeout mark (642) and now ranks fourth on the Jayhawks’ all-time career list with 644. Sophomore Valerie George was solid in three and two-thirds innings of relief, fanning six batters, walking two and allowing just one hit.

Shortbridge (11-3) gave up all four of KU’s hits, struck out seven and walked one in six innings for the win while Ferguson fanned two Jayhawks in one inning to earn her third save of the season.

-KU-