Second inning hurts Jayhawks as they fall to Baylor, 9-3

April 16, 2011

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LAWRENCE, Kan. –

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Despite a three-hit game from Maggie Hull, the Kansas softball team could not muster enough for a comeback win on Saturday against the No. 15/16 Baylor Bears at Arrocha Ballpark as it fell 9-3.

With the loss KU dropped to 28-16 overall and 1-12 in conference play. Baylor improved to 33-8 and 6-3 in the Big 12.

Hull was responsible for three of the nine hits for the Jayhawks. One of those hits was a two-run home run to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning. The home run was her seventh of the season. It also brought the Jayhawks within five runs, 7-2.

The very next half inning the Bears answered with two runs of their own to extend the lead to 9-2.

The Bears picked up six runs in the top of the second inning to give Baylor a comfortable 6-0 lead. The Bears started the scoring on a solo home run by Dani Leal. The next five runs were all unearned and came with two outs in the inning.

“The last couple of games we’ve struggled with bouncing back. If something bad happens or if something doesn’t go our way, instead of bearing down and really focusing on getting the next batter, we are letting it snowball a little bit and I discussed that with the girls after the game. We have to do a better job of bouncing back and be ready for the next batter or the next play,” head coach Megan Smith said.

Alex Jones started the game in the circle for KU, but only lasted one and two-thirds innings. Allie Clark came in and pitched the rest of the game for KU. Clark allowed three runs on seven hits in five and one third innings. Meanwhile Baylor starting pitcher Whitney Canion kept the Jayhawk hitters in check as she allowed no runs on just two hits while striking out six.

Canion picked up her 18th win (18-5) on the season, while Jones was saddled with the loss making her 5-1 on the season.

Trailing 9-2 going into the bottom of the seventh the Jayhawks were looking for a comeback win as they left the bases loaded to end the game. KU did manage one run in the seventh on a Mariah Montgomery RBI single to left field.

KU will face off with Baylor again on Sunday at noon in the final game of the series.