Kansas Falls at Texas, 3-1
AUSTIN, Texas – Kansas softball dropped the first game of the series at Texas, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon at Red and Charline McComb Field. The Jayhawks loss in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader marked the third-straight game that KU has lost by two runs or less.
Junior infielder Celina Felix gave Texas an early 1-0 lead after hitting a RBI single up the middle. The Longhorns added to their lead in the first inning with a sacrifice fly to left field before the opening frame ended. Texas took a 2-0 advantage into the second.
Kansas came 60 feet away from putting a dent in UT’s lead. Sophomore outfielder Erin McGinley struck out, but reached base on a third strike pass ball. Redshirt sophomore catcher Harli Ridling bunted McGinley into scoring position, while sophomore infielder Jessie Roane advanced McGinley to third with a ground out. Despite moving the runner, the Jayhawks second inning rally was halted as Texas recorded its second-straight scoreless frame.
In the bottom half of the second, sophomore hurler Andie Formby worked around a base hit for her first scoreless frame of the ballgame. The right-hander got the starting nod for the 23rd time this season.
Senior infielder Chaley Brickey registered her 52nd career double with two outs in top of the third. Brickey’s shot to centerfield moved her closer to claiming another all-time Kansas record. The Haltom City, Texas product needs seven more doubles to become the Jayhawks’ leader. Brickey also became the second KU runner stranded in scoring position.
Sophomore infielder Daniella Chavez led off the fourth with a walk and freshman Emily Bermel entered the game to pinch run for Chavez. Erin McGinley followed with a single to left field, giving Kansas runners on first and second. Roane singled to right field and the KU runners advanced an extra base on a Texas throwing error. The error allowed the first Jayhawk run to cross home plate. Evans drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases, before the Longhorns could get out of the inning. Despite leaving the bases loaded, Kansas cut Texas’ advantage to one run, 2-1, heading into the bottom of the fourth.
After surrendering a pair of runs in the first, Formby worked around a base hit in each of the next three innings to record three-straight scoreless frames. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, the Longhorns added an insurance run on a RBI single. Texas headed to the sixth with a 3-1 lead over Kansas.
Kansas’ offense couldn’t mount a comeback in the final innings as the Longhorns’ took the first game of the series, 2-1. Texas’ ace junior Tiarra Davis earned the win in the circle. Davis improved to 18-9 on the season while Formby recorded the loss, dropping to 17-7 on the year.
Up Next
Following Saturday’s doubleheader, Kansas concludes its three-game series at Texas on Sunday, May 1. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m. on the Jayhawk Radio Network and the Longhorn Network.
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