Jayhawks Edge North Texas, 1-0
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas sophomore hurler Andie Formby tossed seven scoreless innings to record her Big 12-leading seventh shutout, as the Jayhawks edged North Texas, 1-0, on Friday night at Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park.
Formby scattered three hits in her first outing of the weekend while striking out eight, the third time this season she has struck out eight or more batters. Formby’s eight strikeouts was one shy of her career-high mark of nine set against Evansville on March 22.
“We are excited about how we started the weekend,” said head coach Megan Smith. “North Texas is a great offensive team, so I was pleased with the way Andie (Formby) and our defense handled the potent offense.”
With the victory in the circle, Formby improves to a 12-5 mark while the shutout performance dropped her ERA to 2.07. The Orange, California, product faced 23 batters, two over the minimum, and sat down 12-straight batters with the help of KU’s defense.
“Andie was doing what she does,” Smith said. “She moves the ball well, hits her spots, is in control of her pitches, and is in control of the at-bat, which she does extremely well. She did that with every single batter tonight.”Senior Shannon McGinley drove in the
game-winning run against the Mean Green.
The Jayhawks’ (21-13, 1-2 Big 12) offense pressured the Mean Green early and often throughout the game. Kansas registered six hits, five of which were hit by the McGinley duo. Older sister, Shannon McGinley, went 3-for-3 at the plate with a RBI while younger sister, Erin McGinley, ended the night with a 2-for-3 effort in the batter’s box.
“Offensively, we were making a lot of things happen, putting the ball in play and only striking out only one time,” said Smith. “That was a big positive and we had some opportunities that we missed to drive in some runs, but it’s a good start to the weekend for our offense. We got a lot of opportunities, we need to come through in the next few games to score more.”
Shannon McGinley doubled, her 10th of the season, in the bottom of the first, but was stranded in scoring position as the opening frame came to a close. She ended the day with a pair of singles and a double.
The Jayhawks threatened in the second, as the bottom of the batting order loaded the bases, but North Texas ended the inning unharmed with three Jayhawks still on base. KU loaded the bases once again in the third, but stranded three more Jayhawks as the inning ended. Although Kansas recorded four hits through the first three innings, seven KU base runners were stranded in the opening frames.
Kansas took the lead in the fourth, after Shannon McGinley plated KU’s lone run with her third hit of the night, a single to left field. McGinley’s RBI single gave the Jayhawks a 1-0 advantage after four frames.
With runners on the corners and just one out, North Texas pressured in the top of the fifth. However, Formby wasn’t fazed with the tying run in scoring position and calmly ended the inning unscathed with a ground out and her fifth K of the appearance.
Formby finished off her 17th start of the year with two additional scoreless inning of work, as Kansas began its final weekend of non-conference action with a 1-0 victory over North Texas.
Up Next
Kansas continues its bye weekend round robin with hosts North Texas and Georgia Tech on Saturday, April 9 with first pitch is slated for 1:30.Follow all the action on the Jayhawk Radio Network.
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.
