Kansas softball holds off SIU-Edwardsville, 6-4

By Staff Reports     Apr 23, 2015

A four-run third inning carried Kansas University to a 6-4, nonconference softball victory over SIU-Edwardsville on Wednesday at Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park.

Kansas (34-10) will host Oklahoma in a three-game Big 12 series Friday-Sunday at Arrocha. SIUE fell to 35-11.

SIUE (35-11) took a 1-0 lead in the second, but KU (34-8) scored a run in the second, four in the third and another single run in the fourth for a 6-1 lead and blunted the Cougars’ rally attempts.

“We played a team that is top-40 (RPI) team in the country, so we knew that they were going to continue to put pressure on us,” KU coach Megan Smith saud. “They are the type of team that the further the game goes they fight more, they are a very scrappy team. We anticipated it being a tough battle today. We got a little bit of a comfortable lead, but none of us felt comfortable because we knew the type of team that was in the other dugout. They came back a little bit, but that’s what good teams do, so we are going to prepare for that every time we play.”

Shannon and Erin McGinley, sisters from Prairie Village, combined for three of KU’s eight hits and three of the Jayhawks’ five RBIs. Erin McGinley finished the day 1-for-1 with an RBI, while Shannon McGinley went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. The McGinley’s three RBIs came in the big third inning.

“They were great today,” Smith said of the McGinley duo at the plate. “Shannon had hit a little rough patch in her hitting, but is working out of it and doing really well the last few weeks. Then Erin has just gotten her opportunity and has taken advantage of it the last two games. Erin has quality at bats every single time, whether she’s putting a bunt down or working a pitcher for a walk or getting a RBI double. She’s just looked really good the last two days. It’s tough when you don’t play for two thirds of the season, but now that she’s gotten her opportunity she has taken off with it. We are really proud of her.”

SIUE 010 012 0 — 4 8 3

Kansas 014 100 x — 6 8 0

W — Bryne Houlton, 5-3. L — Haley Chambers, 20-5. Sv — Sophia Templin, 1

2B — Chambers, SIUE; Maddie Stein, Shannon McGinley, Erin McGinley, KU. HR — Alex McDavid, SIUE; Chaley Brickey, KU.

KU highlights — S. McGinley 2-for-3, 2 R, RBI; E. McGinley 1-for-1, 2 RBIs.

PREV POST

KU basketball recruiting notebook: Newman undecided

NEXT POST

46586Kansas softball holds off SIU-Edwardsville, 6-4