Four hits on Saturday. Four hits on Sunday. Not enough when you’re playing NCAA defending champion Oklahoma.
“You need more than four hits against a team like that,” Kansas third baseman Megan Urquhart said after the Sooners posted a 6-2 victory on Sunday at Jayhawk Field. “You need hot bats.”
At least the Jayhawks were consistent against Oklahoma pitcher Jennifer Stewart. KU collected a double and three singles on both Saturday (a 2-1 loss) and Sunday off Stewart, a junior left-hander from Yukon, Okla.
“Stewart did a good job,” KU coach Tracy Bunge said after Sunday’s loss. “I felt we pressed at the plate yesterday because we were so excited. Not today. She (Stewart) made some adjustments.”
Mainly, Stewart threw more let-ups on Sunday.
“She had a nice change-up,” Urquhart said, “and it worked for her multiple times. It tailed off right at the end.”
Kansas scored its only runs in the third inning without hitting a ball out of the infield. KU loaded the bases on a hit batter, a fielder’s choice and Erin Garvey’s scratch single.
Shelly Musser grounded to second to score one run and the other crossed on Leah Tabb’s single off the shortstop’s glove before Stewart escaped further woes.
Kansas threatened in the fifth inning when Musser doubled down the right-field line with one out, but Urquhart took a called third strike on a Stewart change and Tabb popped to the catcher.
Oklahoma nursed a 3-2 lead from the third through the sixth, then added three more in the seventh when the Jayhawks self-destructed with two errors and a mental miscue. Musser, the center fielder, called for a pop fly catchable by second baseman Amy Hulse, then couldn’t make the play.
Kansas freshman pitcher Kara Pierce deserved a better fate. In the two games against the Big 12 leaders in practically every offensive category, Pierce did not surrender an extra-base hit. OU collected a dozen singles six in each game off Pierce.
Yet Kansas came in ranked No. 3 in the Big 12 in hitting and Stewart chilled the Jayhawks’ bats.
“We’ve been getting double digits in hits,” KU shortstop Courtney Wright said. “More frustrating than anything is why it was so difficult to hit her (Stewart). It’s not that I don’t think she’s good, it’s that other pitchers have stifled us more than she has.”
In spite of the two losses, Kansas remains in third place in the Big 12 with a 9-6 record.
“We would love to get the third seed in the conference tournament,” Bunge said. “But the conference is so tough I’m not sure it matters. You’ll face a tough team no matter what.”
Kansas showed on Saturday and Sunday it is one of those tough teams.
“If the weekend did anything,” Bunge said, “it proved we belong here, that we can compete with the best teams in the country.”
Notes: Bunge switched sore-shouldered Tabb from catcher to designated player after the third inning because the Sooners were running on her. Dani May, a freshman from Lawrence, took over behind the plate. Oklahoma climbed to 14-2 in the Big 12 and 40-7 overall. KU is 30-23 overall Bunge gave the Jayhawks today off and plans only light drills on Tuesday with no games scheduled until next Saturday’s home doubleheader against league-leading Nebraska.
Oklahoma 6, Kansas 2
EBraitsch, Washington, Urquhart, Wright, Hansen. LOBOklahoma 7, Kansas 8. 2BS. Musser (7). SBRing 2 (13), Braitsch (9), Washington (6), S. Musser (16), Wright (11). SHWashington, Hulse, Hansen.
WPPierce. PBMay. HBPBy Pierce (Gulla), by Stewart (C. Musser). T2:08. A560. |