Friday, April 27, 2007
Home may be where the heart is, but it’s not where the wins are for the Jayhawks this season.
After a long day in Nebraska on Thursday the Kansas softball team returns to Lawrence to conclude its 2007 season at home this weekend.
“It’s frustrating not getting the home wins, but I love how we’re playing on the road,” coach Tracy Bunge said.
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We’ve got momentum since the Tech game and that has lead to our confidence going up which leads to good things.
-Coach Tracy Bunge
Kansas (31-18-1, 6-8 Big 12 Conference) will play No. 3 ranked Oklahoma (34-16, 7-7 Big 12 Conference) at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
“Right now, we’re playing with confidence and I think we’ll be able to give Oklahoma a run for their money,” Bunge said.
Being the final home series, the Jayhawks will recognize the seniors, pitcher Kassie Humphreys and first baseman Nicole Washburn, in a pre-game ceremony.
The team is winless at Arrocha Ballpark this season against Big 12 teams; though on the road the team is 6-1 against the Big 12 with victories against Nebraska (34-14, 7-5 Big 12 Conference) and Creighton (32-11-1, 13-3-1 Missouri Valley Conference).
At 1:30 p.m. the team played in Lincoln, Neb., after the game was postponed Wednesday because of wet conditions. They then traveled to Omaha, Neb., to play one game against Creighton, which was originally a double-header.
“Not many teams could handle what we went through and for us to get wins was important,” Bunge said.
Game One:
Kansas 6, Nebraska 3
Two of the Big 12 top pitchers squared off in a close knit game that opened up late.
Senior pitcher Kassie Humphreys (16-10) gave up three runs on three hits, but got the offensive support the team has been lacking in recent weeks to give her the victory.
Humphreys threw a complete game, struck out four batters and walked eight.
Squaring off against the Kansas offense was Nebraska’s senior ace Ashley DeBuhr.
DeBuhr, who shut out the Jayhawks in their first meeting, threw for six innings and struck out seven Jayhawk batters.
Nebraska struck first in the second inning. The team scored on a fielding error and took the lead 1-0.
But the Kansas offense reemerged and capitalized on DeBuhr in the sixth inning, scoring four runs and giving Humphreys a big enough lead to put the game away.
“We’ve got momentum since the Tech game and that has lead to our confidence going up which leads to good things,” Bunge said.
The sixth inning offensive explosion began with leadoff hitter, sophomore outfielder Dougie McCaulley, who hit a single with one out, which broke up DeBuhr’s no hitter.
Senior first baseman Nicole Washburn reached on base on a fielder’s choice moving McCaulley to second.
Freshman outfielder Amanda Jobe was walked to load the bases.
Sophomore shortstop Stevie Crisosto hit an infield single to bring in McCaulley and advance the other runners one base.
Sophomore catcher Elle Pottorf hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Washburn and advance the runners.
Humphreys came up and took a 2-2 pitch to left field for a single that brought in Jobe and Crisosto.
The execution with runners on base troubled coach Bunge a week ago against Missouri, but the team got the clutch hit they were looking for.
“When you’re feeling good about yourself things go your way,” Bunge said.
Game Two:
Kansas 2, Creighton 1
Two runs in the second inning were enough for the Jayhawks to defeat the Creighton Blue Jays and extend the Kansas winning streak to four games.
Crisosto led off the inning with a single and Pottorf singled as well.
Freshman Sara Ramirez laid down a sacrifice bunt that advanced the runners and sophomore third baseman Val Chapple’s single to right field brought home Crisosto.
Freshman outfielder Ally Stanton brought in Pottorf with a fielder’s choice hit.
Sophomore Valerie George started for the Jayhawks and threw for 3 1/3 innings.
Senior Kassie Humphreys came in as a reliever and got out of a jam to pick up her 17th victory of the season.
Kansan sportswriter Evan Kafarakis can be contacted at ekafarakis@kansan.com.
— Edited by Trevan McGee
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