April 08, 2006

Jayhawks Top #18 Lady Bears, 2-1, in 11 Innings

April 8, 2006

WACO, Texas –

An outstanding pitching performance from Kassie Humphreys and a two-run homer from Serena Settlemier lifted Kansas softball to a 2-1 win over #18 Baylor in 11 innings Saturday at Getterman Stadium. With the Big 12 Conference victory, the Jayhawks improved to 21-18 overall and 2-4 in league play while the Lady Bears moved to 24-15 and 4-3.

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Humphreys (9-12), the reigning Big 12 Pitcher of the Week, tied a career high with 13 strikeouts, allowed just two hits and walked one in 11 innings for the complete-game victory. Humphreys held the Lady Bears scoreless through 10 innings, striking out five consecutive batters in a row (all swinging) in the third and fourth innings.

KU had the chance to score in the top of the fifth, but stranded two. Nicole Washburn led off with a single to right center and advanced to second on an overthrow (error) by BU’s Miriam Romero. Humphreys knocked down a bunt and reached first (single), advancing Washburn to third. With no outs, Heather Stanley popped out (foul), Nettie Fierros struck out looking and Jessica Moppin flew out to end the inning.

Stevie Crisosto led off the top of the seventh with a double to right center and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Washburn, but was picked off at third while attempting a squeeze bunt on a pitch out.

KU stranded two in the eighth after Moppin and Settlemier notched base hits with two outs. On the day, the Jayhawks left nine on base while BU stranded three in the loss.

In the top of the 11^th, Fierros was placed on second per the international tie-break rule and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Moppin. With one out, Settlemier blasted her 17^th homer of the season – the second-most in the nation – and 39^th of her career, both KU program records.

The Lady Bears scored in the bottom of the 11^th after Chelsi Lake scored from third on an error by Fierros. With a runner on second and one out, Humphreys fanned the last two batters to end the game with a victory, 2-1.

Lisa Ferguson (13-9) struck out nine, gave up seven hits and walked nine in 11 complete innings. Lake and Ashley Monceaux each notched a hit for BU while Settlemier, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Week, and Moppin each totaled two hits on the day to lead the KU offense.

KU and Baylor will wrap up the series Sunday at noon.

-KU-