Kansas splits Saturday doubleheader with Lamar, Missouri State
SAN ANTONIO — Kansas softball split a Saturday doubleheader during the second day of the UTSA Softball Tournament at Roadrunner Field, losing to Lamar and defeating Missouri State.
The Jayhawks (7-2) opened the day with a 13-4 five-inning loss to Lamar (2-4), followed by a 6-0 victory over Missouri State (4-3) behind a complete-game shutout effort from Andie Formby in the pitching circle.
Formby improves to 3-0 on the season after tossing 7.0 innings against the Bears, allowing just four hits, no walks and striking out five. MSU’s Holly Kelley (2-1) took the loss in the circle, giving up four runs on seven hits against the Jayhawks.
Missouri State’s best chance to score came in the first inning after a pair of singles and a stolen base put runners at second and third with one out. But senior third baseman Jessie Roane gave a quick end to the scoring opportunity with an unassisted double play to end the inning. Roane dove to snag a line drive by Kaitlin Beason down the third base line and quickly tagged third base to retire the lead runner before she tagged-up.
Formby would go on to allow only two Missouri State base runners for the remainder of the contest and retired the last 10 batters in order during the final 3.1 innings.
Meanwhile, KU’s offense jumped out of a 3-0 lead in the second inning against the Bears behind first-career home runs by freshman shortstop Sydnee Ramsey and freshman designated player Tarin Travieso, and an RBI double by freshman centerfielder Brittany Jackson. Jackson’s double drove in senior right fielder Mikayla Warren after she registered a two-out single and quickly stole a base.
The Jayhawks added a run in the third inning as senior left fielder Erin McGinley drove in senior catcher Harli Ridling, who reached on a double.
Later in the fourth, Kansas scored two more runs after taking advantage of four free bases on three walks and one hit-by-pitch. With the bases juiced, Ridling recorded her second hit of the day to drive in two runs and give KU a 6-0 lead.
Kansas and Missouri State will play again on Sunday morning to conclude the UTSA Softball Tournament. The Jayhawks lead the all-time series with the Bears, 65-17.
Kansas dropped the first game of the afternoon to Lamar, 13-4, in five innings. Lamar first baseman Shelby Henderson finished with a career day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and seven RBIs.
After Lamar took a 3-0 lead in the top half of the first inning, Kansas responded with a run in the bottom half as Roane and Ridling hit back-to-back doubles with two outs. But Lamar was able to take control with a pair of five-run innings in the third and fifth innings.
Roane added her second home run of the year in the bottom of the fifth inning and finished the first contest of the day going 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and three RBIs.
Travieso and fellow freshman Haidyn Bassett both made their first-career pitching appearance for the Jayhawks against the Cardinals. Travieso threw 2.1 innings with one strikeout, while Bassett tossed two-thirds of an inning with on strikeout.
Senior pitcher Sarah Miller (3-2) took the loss after allowing three runs in the first inning. Lamar’s Laura Napoli (1-2) earned the winning decision.
It is just the second time Kansas and Lamar have met on the softball field. Last season, Kansas won a 1-0 decision in Beaumont, Texas.
UP NEXT
Kansas returns to Roadrunner Field on Sunday for the conclusion of the UTSA Softball Tournament against Missouri State at 10 a.m. Central.
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