Monday, March 31, 2008
They call it March Madness for a reason. For the third time this season, the University of Kansas softball team had to deal with cold weather that changed the weekend game schedule.
“We’re tired of playing in the cold,” coach Tracy Bunge said.
She said that if you talked to baseball coach Rich Price, you would probably get the same response from him about the weather. Bunge said it hurt the attendance, but the team had still been playing well in the poor weather.
The team had no problem getting through the weekend with a sweep of Texas Tech. Junior pitcher Valerie George carried the team in the first game of the doubleheader. George collected her fifth shutout of the season, and junior third baseman Val Chapple drove in the only run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning.
Junior pitcher Valerie George throws to first after fielding a ground ball. Kansas defeated Texas Tech 1-0 Saturday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark.
Bunge was happy that George got the shutout, especially on a day when it seemed like she didn’t have her best stuff.
“She got herself into trouble in a couple of different innings with runners in scoring position,” Bunge said. “Yet she pitched really tough in those situations and that’s what you like to see.”
George scattered three Texas Tech hits over seven innings, including two doubles to Texas Tech senior first baseman Jennifer Corkin. The Jayhawks gathered five hits and capitalized on a Texas Tech throwing error to earn their one run.
Bunge said the team did just enough to win the ball game. She said that she was not extremely happy with the offensive output but that she was glad that the team is coming through in close games.
“We’re doing the things it takes to win close ball games right now,” Bunge said.
The second game was a much more offensive affair. The Jayhawks scored 12 runs on 12 hits and held on for a 12-7 victory. Senior left fielder Betsy Wilson continued her impressive season with a perfect four-for-four day at the plate, including a double, six RBI and her third home run of the season. Junior center fielder Dougie McCaulley and sophomore second baseman Sara Ramirez also had multiple hits, and seven Jayhawks total got a hit in the game.
Bunge was pleased to see Wilson’s continued success on the field.
“She’s having the best year of her career since she’s been at KU this year,” Bunge said.
She said she was happy not only to see Wilson perform, but to also see the production that she sparked with the rest of the Jayhawks at the bottom of the line-up.
Bunge said the team definitely needed these two games against Texas Tech to gain momentum in the Big 12. The Jayhawks play at Creighton on Wednesday and will not play at home again until April 12 against Texas. Bunge looks forward to another road test in Nebraska. “Right now, the bottom line is the team’s just playing with a lot of confidence,” Bunge said.
— Edited by Jessica Sain-Baird
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