Softball scores victories against Wichita State

By Ben Ward

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Fresh off scoring 15 runs during the weekend against Baylor, Kansas softball stayed on the offensive.

The Jayhawks racked up 12 runs in the doubleheader Tuesday against Wichita State, including five home runs. Kansas (20-28, 5-9) swept the Shockers with 9-2 and 3-0 victories at Wilkins Stadium in Wichita.

“It felt so good because we brought out our momentum from Baylor,” sophomore Allie Clark said. “We just felt really good and kept swinging like we had all weekend.”

The Jayhawks blasted the Shockers in the opener, and eight starters combined for 13 hits against the Wichita State pitching staff.

Kansas vs. Wichita State

Game 1 : W, 9-2

WP – Vertelka (8-9)

LP – Kolb (14-21)

SV – none

HR – Clark (9), Kocon (6,7)

Game 2 : W, 3-0

WP – Vertelka (9-9)

LP – Kolb (14-22)

SV – George (2)

HR – Clark (10), Crisosto (2)

“It’s great when you get production, not just from one person, but from the entire lineup,” coach Tracy Bunge said. “It was a real solid team effort.”

Senior catcher Elle Pottorf put Kansas up 1-0 with an RBI single in the first inning and extended the lead to 3-0 with a two-RBI double in the third. Next up was Clark, who smashed her ninth home run of the year. Sophomore Liz Kocon also had a big day at the plate, homering twice and knocking in four runs.

“It felt really good to hit like that as a team,” Kocon said. “And for me to break out of my slump too, it was big.”

Meanwhile, senior Valerie George and junior Sarah Vertelka handled the Shockers from the circle. George worked the first three innings and allowed only two hits. Vertelka relieved her in the fourth and pitched the final four frames, allowing two runs.

“They were both very good today,” Bunge said. “They pitched to their strengths and had good movement.”

That pitching would be important, because the second game wasn’t nearly as lopsided.

Clark started the scoring in the second inning by putting the Jayhawks up 1-0 with a home run. The blast was Clark’s fifth home run in the last seven games. Three batters later, senior left fielder Stevie Crisosto blasted a long ball of her own, making it 3-0. The rout appeared to be on.

But Kansas couldn’t pull away. Wichita State pitcher Kasha Kolb settled down, holding the Jayhawks hitless the rest of the game. Kolb rebounded from a poor outing in game one to allow only three hits while striking out nine.

Luckily for Kansas, its pitching staff was more than up for the task.

Vertelka began the game in the circle, allowing only one hit through four scoreless innings. Then George emerged from the bullpen and blanked Wichita State for the final three frames while striking out six and picking up the save. The two combined to one-hit the Shockers, allowing only three base-runners in the contest.

“We definitely had a lot of fun out there,” George said. “It felt really good to beat them like that, so we should have a lot of confidence for Thursday.”

The Jayhawks return home to battle Texas A&M (29-18, 6-8). Thursday’s doubleheader marks the final two home games of the season.

“It’s A&M, they’re always a good team,” Kocon said. “Hopefully we can just keep this momentum going, have fun and finish the season with a bang.”

— — Edited by Chris Hickerson

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