Kansas Falls, 3-0 and 1-0, to Rival Mizzou

April 18, 2007

Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas (27-18-1, 3-8 Big 12) threatened Missouri (32-18, 8-1 Big 12) on multiple occasions but fell, 3-0 and 1-0, Wednesday afternoon, April 18 at Arrocha Ballpark. KU pitchers allowed only two earned runs on the day, but could not match the hot Missouri Tiger pitching staff that combined to allow only nine Jayhawk hits in the afternoon double-header.

Game One – Kansas 0 Missouri 3

Missouri pitcher Jen Bruck (15-5) halted the Jayhawk attack, giving up three hits in seven shutout innings. Kansas threatened in the second inning with runners at second and third and no one out, but stellar defense cut Jayhawk runners, Tracy Lubken and Amanda Jobe, short of home plate.

Mizzou’s first run was scored in the third inning when Micaela Minner’s single down the right line scored lead-off batter Leanne Bowers. Bowers run was unearned.

Missouri would score once more in the fifth and sixth innings to make the score 3-0. Kansas received solid pitching from sophomore Valerie George (9-4) and freshman Sarah Vertelka. George gave up one earned run in four innings of work while Vertelka pitched two innings, surrendering one run on three hits. George has not allowed more than two earned runs in 11 straight appearances.

Freshman Jobe recorded her sixth double of the year and now has a hit in four out of her last six games. Senior Nicole Washburn recorded a team-high six put outs including a fantastic diving foul catch. Washburn, like Jobe, has now recorded a hit in four out of the last six games.

Game Two – Kansas 0 Missouri 1

In the second game, a pitching duel emerged between senior Kassie Humphreys (13-10) and Mizzou pitcher Jana Hainey (5-5). Humphreys was hit four times while fanning seven Tiger batters in seven innings. Hainey was equally difficult to hit, giving up six Jayhawk hits and striking out six in a complete game shutout.

The lone run of the game came in the seventh inning when sophomore Andee Allen crossed home plate on a passed ball. Allen reached base on a lead-off single up the middle and then advanced to third off a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch.

KU threatened in the sixth inning with runners at second and third, but a foul fly out got Hainey out of the jam. Kansas left six runners on base in both games, and recorded a hit in eight of the 14 innings played.

Washburn, a Missouri-native, led the Jayhawk attack with two hits and recorded nine put-outs. KU’s six base hits are the most in a game since the first ballgame of the April 8 double-header at Texas when the team recorded seven hits.

Kansas’ next ballgame is scheduled for Saturday, April 21 at 2 p.m. in Lubbock, Texas against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The second game of the weekend series will be on Sunday, April 22, with first pitch scheduled for noon.

Check back later in the week for more information on the Kansas softball team at kuathletics.com.