Softball Concludes Fall Season 3-1 At Hawkeye Classic

Oct. 6, 2008

IOWA CITY, Iowa –

In its final tournament of the fall season, the Kansas softball team finished 3-1 during the Hawkeye Classic. KU, who went 4-0 last weekend in its own Fall Invitational, concludes fall ball with a 7-1 overall record.

KU opened the Hawkeye Classic with a 4-0 win over Western Illinois. Junior Sarah Vertelka earned the shutout from the pitcher’s circle. In the batter’s box, senior Elle Pottorf finished 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, while driving in two runs.

The Jayhawks suffered a 4-2 setback in its next context against host Iowa with sophomore hurler Allie Clark taking the loss. But the Hesperia, Calif., native bounced back the next day to help KU to another win over WIU, 6-3. Newcomer Sarah Blair sealed the victory earning a save in the contest.

Senior Val Chapple led the offense going 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. Fellow seniors Dougie McCaulley and Pottorf added two hits a piece.

Kansas topped Iowa 5-2 in the weekend finale. The teams were tied 2-2 after the second inning, but Pottorf put the Jayhawks ahead in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out RBI double. Chapple sealed the win with a two-run homer.

Val George, a senior, pitched six strong innings to earn the victory, while Blair pitched her third save of the weekend taking over in the seventh inning.

Kansas, who returns 13 letterwinners to a team that went 37-19 a year ago, opens its 2009 season in the Kajikawa Classic in Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 6-8.