Successful Fall Slate Provides Glimpse of Promising Future for Kansas Softball

Oct. 22, 2010

Coach Smith Fall Recap and Highlight Video

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Redshirt junior Liz Kocon and sophomore Mariah Montgomery recorded 11 hits each during Kansas softball’s fall season to help the Jayhawks go 5-1 in its fall ball action. KU concluded its fall competition last weekend going 3-1 in its Jayhawk Invitational.

Montgomery collected her hits on a team-high .647 batting average and added four walks for a .714 on-base percentage. Kocon was right behind Montgomery batting a .579 average in her first game action since suffering a season-ending injury in February 2010. Kocon drove in a team-best 11 runs with the help of five home runs in just six games.

Sophomore Maggie Hull was also key on offense racking up 10 RBIs on eight hits highlighted by a grand slam during the team’s 10-0 rout of Baker University in the fall opener. Hull also added a single, double and triple versus the Wildcats to hit for the cycle. She finished the fall with three triples.

Maggie’s twin sister Rosie tallied nine singles and matched her sister with a .500 batting average, while scoring five times along with Montgomery, freshman Ashley Newman and senior Brittany Hile. Newman also showcased her speed during fall ball collecting three stolen bases.

Complimenting the Kansas offense was the Jayhawks’ four-person arsenal in the pitcher’s circle, which allowed no earned runs during the team’s fall season. KU received especially impressive performances from newcomers Kristin Martinez and Ashley Spencer. Martinez fanned nine batters in 11 innings of work and allowed no walks. Spencer, a junior transfer who also threw 11 frames, had eight strikeouts and just one walk.

Sophomore Alex Jones and senior Allie Clark also saw time from the circle combining for 10 more strikeouts and allowing no hits in nine innings.

Kansas will continue its preparations for its 2011 season opener scheduled for Feb. 11-13 in Jacksonville, Fla.