Explosive Late Inning Lifts Kansas Past Fordham, 10-1

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Junior utility Maddie Stein’s late inning hits sparked an offensive eruption that led to eight runs in the final inning as Kansas softball defeated Fordham 10-1 in five innings Friday morning at the College of Charleston Classic.
 
Stein, who finished 3-for-4 with a team-high four RBIs, led off the fifth inning with a single and concluded the frame with a bases loaded triple as Kansas run-ruled Fordham in the opening game of the weekend. It is the first run-rule game for the Jayhawks this season. The victory improves Kansas to 2-2 on the season and 1-0 on the weekend with four more games to play in Charleston.
 
Fordham (3-2) struck first and gained a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Gabby Luety singled to left field allowing Sydney Canessa to cross home plate.
 
After giving up two hits in the first inning, sophomore pitcher Kesley Kessler settled down and allowed only one more hit over the next four innings. She struck out six Ram batters in five innings en route to her second win of the 2014 campaign. Kessler is now 2-1 in the circle with 0.50 ERA and 28 strikeouts.

From the second to fourth inning, Kessler and the Jayhawk defense sat down nine Ram batters in order. A single from Paige Ortiz ended the streak and was the last hit given up by Kessler in third outing of the season.
 
Kansas answered in the third inning to take the lead. Sophomore Chaley Brickey got on base with a two-out single to left field. Stein stepped into the batter’s box and delivered a double to center field tying the game 1-1. Freshman Harli Ridling followed suit and switched places with Stein after hitting a double and KU led 2-1.
 
Prior to Stein’s three RBI triple, senior Taylor Hatfield plated the first run of the fifth inning with an RBI single to third base. An illegal pitch from the Rams gave KU another run. Freshman Taylor Dodson and senior Alex Jones each recorded an RBI with a double and base hit, respectively.
 
Kansas finished with a season-high 11 hits as Stein (3-for-4), Ridling (2-for-3) and Alex Jones (2-for-4) recorded a multi-hit game. Stein, who is batting .462 after four games, leads the Jayhawks with six hits including three extra base hits. She also leads the team with five RBIs in 2014.
   
The Jayhawks continue action at the College of Charleston Classic Ole Miss at 12:30 p.m.
 
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