Softball Jayhawks: NCAA bid big, but wins better

By Benton Smith     May 16, 2014

Kansas University’s softball players already survived what felt like hours of holding their collective breath Sunday before learning they made the NCAA Tournament.

It had to make the idea of beginning KU’s first postseason since 2006 against No. 19 Nebraska (40-15) a little less daunting.

Senior second baseman Ashley Newman said the Jayhawks screamed when their team’s name popped up next to the Huskers during the selection show, but it wasn’t out of fear.

“There was a lot of crying. A lot of emotions went around the room. It was the best feeling,” Newman shared. “So far.”

KU (33-21), which lost 1-0 to the Huskers on March 15, opens play in the double-elimination pod against Nebraska at 12:30 p.m. today at Columbia, Mo. The Jayhawks also could face historic rival Missouri (41-16) and Bradley (27-30) this weekend.

Junior pitcher Alicia Pille said the Jayhawks quickly recovered from the elation of reaching the tourney. Now, she added, they can’t sit back and feel good about their accomplishment.

“This is what we’ve been waiting for,” Pille said, “so you’ve gotta go after it.”

Now that fifth-year coach Megan Smith has her first NCAA Tournament team, she feels like Kansas is establishing itself as an up-and-coming program.

“It’s big,” she said of breaking through and earning a postseason bid. “I’ve been here for five seasons, and it’s been a fun ride. This was our goal all along, was to get to the postseason. I feel like the last couple of years we’ve been really close and (were) not quite there yet.”

The Jayhawks reached their goal just in time for the team’s four seniors — Newman, outfielder Taylor Hatfield, pitcher/outfielder Alex Jones and catcher Nikki Bruce.

“This is happening,” Newman said of the first thing that went through her head when she woke up Monday morning.

“I’ve been waiting for this the last three years. Now it’s my senior year and I feel fortunate that it happened.”

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