Softball team loses two games to Missouri
The Jayhawks lost 7-2 and 6-5 against rival Missouri. Kansas managed only one fewer hit than Missouri, but couldn’t produce as many hits.
By Kelly Breckunitch (Contact)
Friday, April 18th, 2008
The University of Kansas softball team lost two tough games to Missouri on the road Wednesday. Coach Tracy Bunge said losses were always harder when you lose to a rival.
“Any sport that faces Missouri, I think the intensity is a little higher,” Bunge said. “The rivalry obviously is there and you always want to take care of business during that game.”
The Jayhawks lost 7-2 in the first game. While Missouri came up with only six hits in the game, the Tigers were efficient and scored seven runs on those six hits. The Jayhawks managed one fewer hit than the Tigers, but they produced only two runs. One of those hits was a home run by freshman right fielder Liz Kocon, accounting for half of the Jayhawks’ run support. Junior center fielder Dougie McCaulley had two hits in the game and the only other RBI. Missouri senior pitcher Jen Bruck limited the Jayhawks’ chances and presented a tough matchup for the team.
Photo by Jon Goering
Junior outfielder Dougie McCaulley just misses a hard line drive to right during the game against Texas Sunday at Arocha Ballpark.
Bunge said Bruck was a strong second half pitcher, who came on strong near the end of the season. She said Bruck was very hittable early in the season, but the Jayhawks met her on a day when she was in late season form.
“Bruck is a big key for them and she played extremely well and pitched extremely well,” said Bunge.
The Jayhawks improved their play in the second game of the night, but the result was the same. The team lost in extra innings on a walk-off double, 6-5. Errors hit the team, as they committed three in the game, but they still managed to stay in the ball game. Sophomore first baseman Amanda Jobe did her part to help the Hawks, hitting two home runs and driving in three runs. Kocon had the other two RBI for the team.
Pitching was a problem for the Jayhawks in both games. Junior Valerie George struggled in the first game yielding six runs in two and one-third innings. In the second game, sophomore pitcher Sarah Vertelka allowed three runs and was pulled from the game before recording an out.
Bunge said she was at least pleased with freshmen pitcher Allie Clark’s performance in relief. She said George’s struggles may have been due to her battling sickness, but it was an off day for George.
Kocon said that was an off day for the entire team. “It was no one person the team that could’ve done things better,” Kocon said, “it was just the cards didn’t go our way.”
Now the Jayhawks move on to face Texas A&M, which is ranked fourth in the nation. “It will be very mental, very physical,” Kocon said.
The team will play at Texas A&M on April 19 and 20. Bunge said the team would need to shake off the Missouri losses and play up to the occasion. “We’re going to obviously be the underdog. There’s nothing to lose,” Bunge said. “Our kids just need to go out and play loose and have some fun with the event and go play hard and do what we do.”
— Edited by Jessica Sain-Baird
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