Kansas Takes Game One From UMKC in Milestone Fashion, 11-0

April 24, 2013

Box Score

Kansas 11, UMKC 0 (5)
Arrocha Ballpark // Lawrence, Kan.
newman
Freshman Alex Hugo drilled her 12th home run of the season in the bottom of the second – the most homers hit by a freshman in KU history.

1 2 3 4 5 R H E
UMKC 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
KU 2 8 1 0 x 11 14 0
Box Score | Box Score Get Acrobat Reader
Leaders – Batting
Kansas AB R H RBI BB HR
M. Hull 4 1 3 2 0 0
A. Hugo 4 2 1 3 0 1
UMKC
E. Ott 2 0 1 0 0 0
Pitching
Kansas IP H R ER BB SO
Pille (W, 12-6) 5.0 1 0 0 0 10
UMKC
Ramos (L, 4-8) 2.1 9 10 10 3 1
Kelley 1.2 5 1 1 2 0

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Freshman Alex Hugo connected on her 12th home run of the year and senior Maggie Hull racked up her 135th career RBI to help Kansas’ offense roll out to an 11-0, five-inning victory in the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader against UMKC at Arrocha Ballpark.

A schedule change brought Kansas (28-13) another pair of home games as the original schedule had UMKC (16-18) hosting the twin bill. With the added games, the Jayhawks gave their home crowd a historical show.

Hugo kicked off the milestone evening with her 12th home run of the season in the bottom of the second, breaking the KU freshman home run record previously held by Jessica Moppin (11, 2003).

“What a great freshman year so far and it’s not over yet,” head coach Megan Smith said. “We’re really proud of her and what she’s been doing. We see a lot of good things to come for her in the rest of her career.”

Senior left fielder Maggie Hull recorded two RBIs in two different at bats in the second inning to tie the Kansas RBI record in a meaningful setting. The second run Hull drove in tied her with current record holder Liz Kocon (135, 2008-12), who serves as KU’s current color analyst for AT&T Jayhawk All-Access radio broadcasts.

Hugo finished the first game of the day with a team-high three RBIs, going 1-for-4 with two runs scored. Hull led the way with a 3-for-4 performance, while fellow senior captain Mariah Montgomery posted a multi-hit day, as well, going 2-for-2 with an RBI to bring her career total to 130.

Sophomore catcher Maddie Stein brought her own power to the table, knocking out a two-run shot in the bottom of the first. She and Hugo sit tied for the team’s lead on the season with 41 RBIs and Hull sits right behind them with 40 after game one against the Kangaroos.

Sophomore Alicia Pille (12-6) appreciated the offensive support although she didn’t need much as the right-hander threw her 14th career shutout. A double to right fielder Emily Ott in the top of the first was all that kept Pille from a perfect game. She went on to retire 13-straight, walked none and struck out 10 in her near flawless outing.

Starter Cinda Ramos (4-8) took the loss for the ‘Roos, surrendering 10 runs on nine hits in her 2.1 total innings in the circle that was split between the first two and the fourth innings.

Stein got the offensive rout rolling the first chance she got, blasting a two-run homer to centerfielder to hand KU a 2-0 lead out of the first inning.

The Jayhawks took the lead and ran with it, sending 14 batters to the plate to churn out eight runs on eight hits in the bottom of the second. Montgomery led off the inning with a double with a double and after junior second baseman Ashley Newman moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt, KU saw nine-straight runners reach base.

Hugo’s three-run bomb highlighted the scoring in the second, while Montgomery and Hull each posted two hits in the lopsided frame. Newman and sophomore right fielder Cassen Salamone each knocked in a run.

Armed with an insurmountable 10-0 lead after two innings, the Jayhawks added one more in the bottom of the third when freshman pinch hitter Kylee Kennedy drew a bases-loaded walk to push Kansas to an 11-0 advantage.

Pille struck out four of the next six she faced to end the game in five innings, 11-0.

KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.