Kansas softball moves to 12-0

By Staff Reports     Feb 21, 2015

? Kansas University freshman Bryn Houlton made her first collegiate appearances hours apart as the Jayhawks picked up a pair of victories Friday in the Aquafina Invitational.

Houlton pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in the Jayhawks’ 10-4 rout of Liberty, then picked up her first save by pitching out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in a 4-2 victory over Illinois State.

“Bryn was great today,” KU coach Megan Smith said. “She hasn’t pitched the last two weekends and was champing at the bit. I kept telling her, ‘We’re going to call your name. Be ready.’ She was absolutely ready. She went out there, went right after their hitters. Her stuff was working well, and I’m really proud of her. Being a freshman and being able to come in and do that, that’s a big deal. I’m really proud of her effort today.”

At 12-0, the Jayhawks are off to the best start in program history.

Against Liberty (4-5), Chaley Brickey went 3-for-5 with two runs and four RBIs, with a double and home run, to pace KU’s 14-hit attack.

Briana Evans went 3-for-4 with a run as Kansas collected 12 more hits against Illinois State (5-7).

The Jayhawks will meet defending national champion, and tournament host, Florida approximately 1:15 p.m. today.

Kansas 10, Liberty 4

Kansas 203 005 0 — 10 14 1

Liberty 002 020 0 — 4 7 1

W — Monique Wesley, 3-0. L — Chandler Ball, 3-3.

2B — Chaley Brickey, Maddie Stein, Chanin Naudin, KU. HR -Brickey, KU.

Kansas highlights — Brickey 3-for-5, 2 R, 4 RBIs; Naudin 2-for-3, 2 R, RBI; Lily Behrmann 2-for-4, 2 R.

Kansas 4, Illinois State 2

Illinois State 000 200 0 — 2 8 1

Kansas 120 001 x — 4 12 1

W — Allicia Pille, 6-0. L — McKensie Vissering, 1-4. Sv — Brynn Houlton, 1.

2B — Shannon McGinley, Jessie Roane, KU. HR — Payton Billups, ISU.

Kansas highlights — Briana Evans 3-for-4, R; Behrmann 2-for-4, 2 RBIs; Houlton 2/3 IP, 0 R.

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