Kansas drops Kajikawa Classic finale
TEMPE, Ariz. – In a final game of the Kajikawa Classic, the Jayhawks (0-5) were caught in a pitcher’s duel that came down to the very last out.
Brynn Minor received the start for the Jayhawks after her best outing of the year against Utah Saturday. The senior right-hander pitched the entire 7.0 innings, allowing only three earned runs and seven hits overall, but dropped the 3-2 decision to Missouri (3-2).
Minor not only commanded the strike zone but relied on her defense, which turned two double plays to clear the bases against the Tigers.
Kansas jumped out to the early lead, netting a run in the first inning off a fielder’s choice, which allowed Madison Sykes to slide under the tag at home.
Missouri was able to battle back and netted two runs off Minor in the top of the second, and never relinquished the lead.
The next four innings were scoreless between the two state-bordering schools, and Missouri netted an insurance run in the top of the seventh.
The Jayhawks down to their last three outs pushed one run across on a Becki Monaghan single to left center field. With runners at the corners, and two outs, KU was unable to convert.
Kansas finished the Kajikawa Classic 0-5 and turns its focus to the Diamond 9 Citrus Blossom Tournament in Kissimmee, Florida.
NOTES
- Sydnee Ramsey laced a single to right field in the fifth inning, extending her hit streak to five games.
- Brynn Minor tallied a season-high 7.0 innings pitched. Her previous season-high total came against Utah Saturday, Feb. 8, when she pitched 5.1 innings.
- Shelby Gayre rifled a throw down to third base to catch a Missouri base runner in the sixth inning, her second throw out of the season.
- Becki Monaghan tallied her first multi-RBI game of the season, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBI.
QUOTES
On overall performance today and through the tournament …
I can’t be more proud of their fight. We challenged them after our Friday games to figure out who we were and what our identity will be this season. We wanted to see some swagger from them and we got it yesterday and today. The Sunday game in any tournament is a really tough day, you are tired and it is early and you are sore. I am incredible proud of their fight.
On Brynn Minors performance …
Minor got more confident. She started attacking the zone and trusting her pitches. She is going to be a big leader for us on this team on-and-off the field. She is a senior, she has that fight and competitiveness, and she wants the ball in her hand. She wanted to finish the game today and I was really proud of her for that, and I know she was tired and sore too. The fact that she was able to push through those seven innings and gave us everything she had, I could not be more proud of her.
On what the team can take away from this tournament to the next tournament …
I wish we were playing tomorrow, but it is good that they are getting a few days of rest, because theses tournaments can be tough. I can’t wait to play again. I don’t want us to be focused on who we are playing but it will be fun to match up with Missouri again next weekend, because I think this team is only going to get better.
UP NEXT
Kansas continues tournament play at the Diamond 9 Citrus Blossom Tournament and face Iowa, Providence, UMASS, Missouri and Bethune-Cookman in Kissimmee, Florida.
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