Friday, May 1, 2009
Kansas softball coach Tracy Bunge said goodbye to Arrocha Ballpark on Thursday, as the team played its final home game of the season.
The Jayhawks sent their coach out on a high note, defeating Texas A&M 4-1 in the rain-shortened series. Thunderstorms reduced what was originally scheduled as a doubleheader to a single contest. With the victory, Kansas ended its 14-game losing streak to the Aggies, which dated back to 2002.
“First and foremost, this win was great for the kids,” Bunge said. “It’s been a struggle this year, but we’ve come a long way to play this well down the stretch.”
Sara Ramirez, junior second baseman, tags out a Texas A&M runner on Thursday afternoon.
The season has had its ups and downs for Kansas, 21-28 overall and 6-9 in the Big 12. But the team has played some of its best ball lately, having won four of its past five games.
The Jayhawks picked up where they left off in Wichita, jumping out to an early lead. Sophomore shortstop Kolby Fesmire kicked off the scoring in the third inning when she smacked a solo home run to deep center field. The blast was the first of her Jayhawk career.
“I was joking with Allie Clark before the game, having her rub my bat trying to get some of her power into it,” Fesmire said, referencing Clark’s team-leading 10 home runs.
The round tripper seemed to spark the Jayhawks, who quickly loaded the bases for junior first baseman Amanda Jobe. Jobe promptly lined a sharp single to right field, plating two more runs to extend the Jayhawk lead to 3-0.
Pitcher Rhiannon Kliesing provided her own run support, getting A&M on the scoreboard with her solo home run in the fourth inning. But from then on Valerie George and her rise ball were too much for the Aggies to handle.
After throwing six scoreless innings against Wichita State on Tuesday, the senior hurler struck out four and allowed only two hits to A&M batters on Thursday. George worked her 16th complete game of the year en route to her 10th victory.
Bunge wasn’t the only one bidding farewell to Arrocha, as George and her four fellow seniors played their final home games as well.
“I came into the game not thinking about it being my last at home,” George said. “I just wanted to come out and have a strong performance, especially for myself and the other seniors.”
The victory over Texas A&M, 29-19 overall and 6-9 in the Big 12, was important for the Jayhawks, as it bumped them into a tie for sixth place in the Big 12. They also hold the tie-breaker over the Aggies. With a sweep this weekend against Iowa State, Kansas could be in even better shape for post-season consideration.
“We’ve had some ugly losses there the past couple of years,” George said. “But it’s their senior weekend, so we want to go down there and rain on their parade.”
Bunge was also focused on matching the energy of the Cyclones.
“It’s going to be a dogfight,” Bunge said. “We need to match their intensity on senior day. Today’s win only matters if we take care of business this weekend.”
Business aside, Bunge was full of emotion after the game as she reminisced about her 13 seasons at the helm of Kansas softball.
“I’ve got a lot of great emotions and great memories from this place,” she said. “It feels good to go out with a win.”
— — Edited by Grant Treaster
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