KU Wraps Up Fall Ball at Big Red Classic

Oct. 9, 2006

LINCOLN, Neb. –

Kansas softball went 2-2 in the Big Red Fall Classic at Bowlin Stadium over the weekend. The Jayhawks defeated Creighton, 4-3 (12), and Colorado State, 5-1, and fell to host Nebraska, 3-0, and Creighton, 2-0, to wrap up 2006 Fall Ball.

Sophomore third baseman Val Chapple led the KU offense with six hits (.500) and added 12 assists. Three Jayhawk rookies — Allyson Stanton (.385), Dougie McCaulley (.357) and Amanda Jobe (.300) hit .300 or better on the weekend. Sophomore righty Val George led the pitching staff with a .047 ERA through 15 innings while senior hurler Kassie Humphreys struck out 17 and allowed eight hits in 11 frames.

Saturday’s Results

Creighton 2, KU 0
With two Bluejays on base (single, walk), Renae Sinkler notched a two-RBI single in the top of the third to give Creighton a 2-0 lead. The Kansas offense managed just five hits, with Chapple and Stanton each adding two. Humphreys struck out nine and allowed five hits in seven innings to take the loss.

KU 4, Creighton 3 (12)
The Jayhawks scored a run in the third, eighth and 10th innings, and Creighton imitated with a run in the bottom half of each frame. In the top of the 12th, sophomore Stevie Crisosto was placed on second per international tie-breaker rules, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Chapple. When attempting to steal home, Crisosto scored when the Creighton catcher was called for obstruction/interference at the plate. With the tying run on third, the final two Bluejay batters grounded out to Crisosto at shortstop in the bottom half of the inning to end the game. Freshman Sarah Vertelka struck out five and allowed three hits in the first four innings for KU, while George fanned three and gave up three hits in the final eight frames for the win.

Sunday’s Results

KU 5, Colorado State 1
McCaulley went 3-for-4 at the plate and Chapple was 2-for-4 with three RBI as KU totaled nine hits in the victory over Colorado State. Stanton rounded out the offensive leaders with two hits. Humphreys struck out eight and gave up three hits in the first four innings while Vertelka fanned one Ram and allowed three hits in the final four frames.

Nebraska 3, KU 0
The Jayhawks committed four errors and managed just two hits in the tournament finale against Nebraska. Jobe went 2-for-2 for KU and George struck out four, walked four and gave up six hits (one earned run) in the complete-game effort. Husker Alex Hupp fanned six Jayhawks and walked one in seven innings for NU.

The Jayhawks finished the Fall season 9-3 overall. KU opens its spring season Feb. 8 against UC Santa Barbara in San Diego, Calif.

-KU-