Jayhawks Split Doubleheader With Lady `Backs
April 3, 2007
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Kansas softball split a non-conference doubleheader with visiting Arkansas, winning 4-2 and falling 6-1, Tuesday at Arrocha Ballpark. Despite very windy conditions, the Jayhawks (26-12-1) and Lady Razorbacks (16-31) combined for 25 hits but committed six errors in the twinbill. KU concludes its five-game home stand at 3 p.m. Wednesday against Big 12 Conference foe Nebraska.
Sophomore Val Chapple led the KU offense with three hits and an RBI in the pair of contests while sophomore ace Valerie George (9-2) picked up the Jayhawks’ win in the circle.
Game One — KU 4, Arkansas 2 Box score
KU scored its first runs of the day in the bottom of the second. Chapple singled to left and advanced to second on the play and freshman Sara Ramirez doubled to right center to score her. Senior Kassie Humphreys reached on a throwing error by UA pitcher Miranda Dixon that allowed Ramirez to score from third.
The Jayhawks, who are 23-2 this season when scoring first, added to their lead with two runs in the sixth. With one out, freshman Amanda Jobe reached on a fielding error by the shortstop and Chapple singled to center. Jobe scored from third on a wild pitch and Humphreys notched a deep sacrifice fly to center to score Chapple, 4-0.
The Lady `Backs threatened with two runs in the top of the seventh off two hits and a walk. Humphreys was able to retire the last two batters on strikeouts, ending the contest 4-2 in KU’s favor.
George (9-2), the starter, struck out six, allowed five hits and walked one in five innings for the win while Humphreys fanned four, gave up two hits and walked one in the last two innings to earn her league-leading fifth save of the season.
Game Two — Arkansas 6, KU 1 Box score
UA scored first in the night cap, posting two runs in the first inning and three in the second. Whitney Cloer hit a two-run homer off Humphreys in the first and Hillary Freeman posted the first home run of her career, a three-run blast, in the second frame to give the Lady `Backs a 5-0 lead.
KU committed two of its four errors in the game in the fifth inning, leading to another Lady `Back run. The Jayhawk managed a run in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore Dougie McCaulley led off with a double and Chapple knocked a two-bagger to right center for the RBI.
UA ace Katy Henry (10-14) allowed KU just four hits, struck out 10 and walked one in seven innings to take the complete-game victory. Humphreys (12-6) pitched the first one and one-third inning for KU, giving up five hits (five runs, four earned) and striking out one. Freshman Sarah Vertelka allowed four hits and fanned three Hogs in five and two-thirds innings of relief.
-KU-
