Jayhawks Light-Up Shockers, 8-0, and, 4-0.
April 24, 2008
<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>LAWRENCE, Kan. – In its first night game ever at Arrocha Ballpark, Kansas softball defeated Wichita State (28-23) 8-0 in six innings followed by a 4-0 shutout in the nightcap. Kansas (34-15), now on a four-game winning streak, combined to out-hit WSU 17- in both games.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Jayhawks return to Big 12 Conference action this weekend as they welcome OklahomaState to Arrocha Ballpark for a two-game series. The teams will meet Saturday, April 26 for a 2 p.m. game. The series will conclude Sunday at 1 p.m. Many events are scheduled for the weekend including Bark In the Park Saturday, while Sunday is club softball day. Kansas will also be holding its annual softball alumni weekend.
Game One – Kansas 8, WichitaState 0 (6 innings)
Following a scoreless first inning, Kansas recorded the game’s first runs in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Betsy Wilson’s single up the middle scored freshman Liz Kocon from second base to give the Jayhawks a 1-0 advantage. One batter later, fellow senior Addy Lucero drove in Wilson from second for the game’s second run.
Kansas continued its hot-hitting into the third as sophomore Dougie McCaulley led off with a single to left field. Following a couple fielder’s choice outs, Kocon hammered the ball to deep center for a two-run home run. Kocon’s third home run of the season gave the Jayhawks a 4-0 lead.
For the third-straight inning, KU recorded two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore Sara Ramirez hit a line drive double into left field. The game’s next batter, junior Stevie Crisosto, hit KU’s second home run of the game over the left field wall to give Kansas a 6-0 lead. The home run was Crisosto’s fifth of the season and the 12th of her career. It is also just the second time this season that a Jayhawk has hit a home run in consecutive games.
KU finished off the Shockers in the sixth inning when the Jayhawks tallied two more runs. Wilson and Lucero each tallied hits to open the inning. Three batters later, McCaulley hit a bases-clearing triple to left center to end the game after six innings.
Junior Valerie George (17-7) proved to be dominant in the circle for the Jayhawks. She went five scoreless innings, struck out eight and retired the first 13 batters she faced before allowing the lone Shocker hit of the game. Freshman Allie Clark closed out the 8-0 Jayhawk victory.
Game Two – Kansas 4, WichitaState 0
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Kansas picked up where it left off in game two recording the contest’s first run in the first inning. KU’s leadoff batter, Crisosto, walked to open the game. Following a wild pitch, McCaulley singled through the right side to plate Crisosto.
In both the second and third innings, Kansas put three runners on base but was unable to score a run. That changed in the fourth inning, as the Jayhawks tallied three runs thanks to a key WichitaState throwing error. Ramirez and Crisosto both reached base on balls. McCaulley’s sacrifice bunt moved the runners over a base, but after a throwing error, Ramirez scored to give the `Hawks a 2-0 lead. Two sacrifice hits later, Kansas had tallied two more runs to score three in the fourth inning without recording a hit.
Sophomore Sarah Vertelka and Clark (6-3) combined for the 4-0 shutout victory. Vertelka pitched the first two innings, allowing three hits. Clark continued her strong pitching as she allowed only five hits and struck out four.
