Monday, April 28, 2008
The University of Kansas softball team went back to Big 12 conference play this weekend. The team split the home series with Oklahoma State, improving to 35-16 overall.
The first game was not one to remember for the Jayhawks (5-9 Big 12). They could not generate much offense, while Oklahoma State (25-23, 8-8 Big 12) had no problem compiling 13 hits in an 8-1 victory for the Cowgirls. Kansas’ defense showed up with junior third baseman Val Chapple and shortstop Stevie Crisosto making a couple of leaping catches, but the Cowgirls heated up on offense at the right times. Oklahoma State’s senior right fielder Kim Kaye crushed a two-run home run with two outs in the third inning. The Cowgirls scored a run in every inning except the first and seventh innings.
Sophomore second baseman Sara Ramirez stretches out to make a catch for an out at first base. Ramirez had to cover first base after Oklahoma State bunted the pitch. Kansas lost 8-1 Saturday afternoon to the Cowgirls, moving to 0-2 in the three game series against the Cowgirls.
“It was definitely a game of momentum both games,” coach Tracy Bunge said.
She said the Cowgirls were able to get momentum early in Saturday’s game, but on Sunday, the Cowgirls got down and the Jayhawks got the momentum.
Sunday’s game was redemption for Kansas as it earned the 6-0 victory. The team capitalized on three Oklahoma State errors with a big third inning, scoring five runs. Junior pitcher Valerie George worked out of jams in the first three innings with the help of some amazing defense to back her up. Oklahoma State stranded eight runners in the game, and George allowed only one hit after the Jayhawks took the lead.
Kansas coach Tracy Bunge said George pitched a lot smarter on Sunday and pitched her game.
“She’s a nibbler,” Bunge said. “She’s gonna throw the screwball in, the curveball out, get you to chase a rise ball occasionally and then float one of those change-ups in there,” Bunge said.
The Jayhawks move into the home stretch of the season with only two series left before the Big 12 Championship. The team will face off against Nebraska (27-26, 1-12 Big 12) in a doubleheader Wednesday in Lincoln.
“Nebraska’s a very dangerous team because they’ve got nothing to lose right now,” Bunge said.
George said she felt more confident on the mound on Sunday and thought the victory against Oklahoma State would carry momentum for the Jayhawks into the final two series of the season. “Beating them by this much was definitely a good boost for us going into Nebraska and Iowa State,” George said. “I think that that’s definitely what we needed, and hopefully we can get four straight wins.”
— Edited by Daniel Reyes
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