Kansas Rocks Red Raiders 4-1
April 21, 2007
LUBBOCK, Texas – Kansas (28-18-1, 4-8 Big 12) ended its five-game losing streak by defeating Texas Tech (18-22, 1-8 Big 12) 4-1, Saturday afternoon in West Texas. Senior Kassie Humphreys was an integral part in the Jayhawk victory, pitching a complete game one-hitter and recording her seventh home run of her career. KU’s four runs were the most scored by the Jayhawks since recording four runs in the first game of the double-header against Arkansas on April 3.
Texas Tech struck first in the bottom of the first inning when senior Ashley Parker crossed home plate on a passed ball. Parker walked and then stole both second and third base. It was the first time Kansas has won a game when not scoring first since the March 17 ballgame against Georgia State.
Humphreys, the lead-off hitter in the second inning, blasted a home run to left field to knot the score at 1-1. It was Humphreys’ fourth homer of the season and the team’s first home run since the April 1 game against Baylor–ten games ago. It was also the Jayhawks’ first run scored since April 8 against Texas.
Kansas offensive fortunes turned for the better in the fifth inning as KU capitalized on two Red Raider errors. Freshman Sara Ramirez started the inning off with a single to second base. Sophomore Val Chapple’s sacrifice bunt was overthrown to first base, moving both runners to second and third. Two batters later, senior Nicole Washburn’s long fly ball to left field was mishandled, scoring both Ramirez and Chapple. Freshman Amanda Jobe’s single to the right side scored Washburn from second. The three runs scored by the Jayhawks in the fifth inning are the most the team has scored in an inning since scoring three in the first inning at Missouri State on March 28.
Humphreys (14-10) continued her hot pitching, going seven innings and allowing only one run. The Glendale, Ariz. native struck out eleven Red Raiders and while giving up one hit. It was the most strikeouts in a game for Humphreys since she recorded eleven against Texas on April 8. Texas Tech’s Sarah Losleben (5-9) pitched a complete game for the Red Raiders, giving up one earned run.
KU will end their weekend series against Texas Tech Sunday, April 22 at noon. KU will look to extend their current eight-game winning streak over Tech to nine games.
Check back later in the week for more information on the Kansas softball team at kuathletics.com.
