Iowa State Sweeps KU in Saturday Doubleheader
May 5, 2007
AMES, Iowa –
The <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>University of Kansas softball team (32-23-1), dropped both games of a double header Saturday in Ames, Iowa against IowaState. The Cyclones won the first game, 8-0, in five innings, and took the close decision, 3-2, in the second game.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Game One- KU 0 ISU 8 (5 innings)
The Cyclones struck early in the game, scoring seven runs in the first two innings. Senior pitcher Kassie Humphreys ran into trouble early, surrendering a pair of two-run singles in the bottom of the first inning. IowaState tacked on three more runs in the second, putting the Jayhawks at a 7-0 disadvantage.
The outing matched Humphries’ shortest stint in the circle this season, as she lasted on 1.1 innings, surrendering seven hits and seven runs, five of which were earned, and drops her season record to 18-14. Despite the struggle, Humphreys moved into a tie for fourth place on KU’s career appearance list with her 134th game in the Crimson and Blue.
Freshman pitcher Sarah Vertelka relieved Humphries and surrendered one run in 2.2 innings in the circle. KU managed only two hits in the game: a first inning single by freshman Amanda Jobe and second-inning double by sophomore Val Chapple.
Game Two- KU 2 ISU 3
The Jayhawks could not overcome an early three-run deficit and dropped the second game, 3-2. Val Chapple hit her first home run of the season in the defeat.
Iowa State jumped out of the gate with a 1-0 lead in the first inning. During KU’s current five-game losing streak, KU has failed to score the first run in every contest.
The Jayhawks threatened in the third when junior Betsy Wilson and sophomore Dougie McCaulley led off the inning with back-to-back singles and Nicole Washburn sacrificed the pair into scoring position. However, IowaState recorded two straight outs to end the inning.
In the bottom half of the stanza, Elle Pottork quelled a Cyclones’ rally when she caught IowaState’s Amanda Bradberry stealing second.
After the Cylcones added two runs in the bottom of the fourth, Chapple responded quickly in the top of the fifth, smacking her first home run of the season over the left field wall to draw the score to 3-1, in favor of Iowa State.
The rally continued for the Jayhawks in the fifth after Betsy Wilson walked and Nicole Washburn reached on an error by the IowaState shortstop. Jobe was hit by a pitch, loading the bases and Stevie Crisosto added an RBI single to make the score 3-2. The scoring ended abruptly when Elle Pottorf lined out to the third baseman, who doubled up the pinch runner Ally Stanton at third.
Vertelka started the game for KU, lasting two innings and giving up one run on three hits. She took the loss in the contest, dropping her record to 5-5. She was relieved by sophomore Valerie George, who allowed two runs in her four innings.
Kansas now awaits the final seedings for the Big 12 Tournament, which will be held in Oklahoma City May 10-12.
