Jayhawks Fall to Yellow Jackets, 5-2
May 21, 2005
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ATHENS, Ga. –
Despite a late rally, the University of Kansas softball team ended its postseason with a 5-2 loss to No. 17 Georgia Tech Saturday in the NCAA Regional at the UGA Softball Stadium. The Jayhawks finish the season 31-24 while the Yellow Jackets (51-13) advanced to face host Georgia in the regional title game Sunday.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
KU defeated Tennessee Tech, 4-0, earlier in the day while Tech fell to the Bulldogs, 8-1.
Junior Jessica Moppin broke the KU all-time home runs record with the 24th blast of her career and 10th of the season. Moppin supassed former Jayhawks Leah Tabb and Shannon Stanwix, who set the previous mark of 23.
The Yellow Jackets jumped on the board in the bottom of the first, 2-0. KU starter Christina Ross hit a batter, walked two and allowed one hit before Moppin made a dazzling play with two outs to avoid further damage.
KU loaded the bases in the top of the third with one out but could not drive in a run. Tech scored three runs in the bottom of the third off two hits, two walks and an error.
Moppin nailed her two-run homer, which bounced off the scoreboard in left field, in the top of the sixth after Jackie Vasquez led off with a base hit.
Ross (12-9) gave up five hits, walked five and struck out three in 2.2 innings to take the loss. Kassie Humphreys had a good showing, striking out one and allowing no hits in the final 3.1 innings.
Jessica Sallinger, the Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year, struck out two, walked one and fanned one batter in the first three innings. Whitney Humphreys (8-1) gave up four hits and struck out two in four innings for the win.
The Jayhawks left four on base while the Yellow Jackets stranded seven. KU also got hits from Destiny Frankenstein, Ashley Frazer and Nicole Washburn.
KU returns nearly its entire team in 2006, losing only senior pitcher Kathy McVey to graduation this season.
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