Aaron Lindberg/Journal-World PhotoDespite collecting only three hits in two games, Kansas University split a softball doubleheader with Arkansas Wednesday at Jayhawk Field.
The Razorbacks won game one, 5-1, but the Jayhawks took the second game, 1-0.
In the opener, Heather Schlichtman tossed a one-hitter for Arkansas (20-29). The Razorbacks pounded out a season-high 13 hits against KU right-hander Kirsten Milhoan (8-6). Candice Swan led the way with three singles.
Schlichtman (9-15) stuck out five Jayhawks in a row at one point and finished with eight.
Kansas (23-16) had lost five games in a row and eight of nine before bouncing back in the nightcap.
KU junior Kara Pierce (15-10) won a pitchers’ duel against Blaire Woodward. Both Pierce and Woodward (3-3) tossed two-hitters, but KU’s run in the first inning was the difference.
Freshman shortstop Destiny Frankenstein led off by doubling off the bottom of the fence in left-center field.
Frankenstein moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by junior catcher Dani May. Freshman center fielder Heather Stanley followed with a groundout, driving in Frankenstein for the lone run.
Frankenstein also singled and stole a base in the third inning. No other Jayhawk hit safely.
Pierce finished with eight strikeouts in her sixth shutout.
Kansas will return to action Saturday with a doubleheader at fourth-ranked Texas.
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii ? Kansas University is opening the baseball season with six games in Hawaii, but the islands have not been paradise for the Jayhawks so far.
KU moved to 2-2 Saturday after splitting a doubleheader with Hawaii-Hilo for the second straight day.
A four-run sixth inning gave Hawaii-Hilo a 7-4 victory in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader with KU.
In the nightcap, the Jayhawks had 16 hits in a 9-4 victory. KU scored five runs in the second inning in support of Chris Smart (1-0).
Ryan Baty was 4-for-4 with two doubles in the second game. The junior outfielder from Wichita is batting .643 on the road trip.
In Saturday’s opener, KU took a 3-1 lead in the third inning on Baty’s two-run homer.
Hawaii-Hilo tied the game in the fifth before its big sixth inning. Reliever Blake Howard (0-1) was hammered in the sixth, allowing four hits and four runs.
Brian Ebbs (1-1) allowed four hits and four runs in six innings and earned the victory.
KU also split its season-opening doubleheader late Friday. The Jayhawks had won six straight season openers before falling 8-7 in KU’s first game under new coach Ritch Price. It was the first victory of the season for Hawaii-Hilo, which had lost six games to Arizona State.
The Vulcans scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to take the opener. KU won the nightcap, 9-3.
In the first game, freshman Don Czyz — the last of four KU relievers — took the loss.
Junior Ryan Knippschild recorded a complete-game win in the second contest.
The teams conclude the six-game series today with another doubleheader.
Omaha, Neb. ? Ten in a row.
That’s where Kansas University’s softball win streak stood after Wednesday’s 5-1 victory over Creighton University in Game One of a doubleheader at the Creighton Sports Complex.
The Bluejays rebounded to take Game Two, 7-4.
Junior Leah Tabb smashed two home runs in three at bats in the opener. Senior Erin Garvey went 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Freshman righthander Kara Pierce (20-7) continued her dominance, allowing just three hits and one earned run in seven innings.
Pierce, who struck out five, extended her personal winning streak to 12 games.
In Game Two, Creighton scored four runs in the bottom of the first off Kirsten Milhoan. KU rallied for three runs in the top of the second, but the deficit was too much to overcome as CU tacked on single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings.
KU junior Amy Hulse went 2-for-3.
Milhoan (8-11) suffered the loss, allowing five runs in three innings.
The Jayhawks will meet defending national champion Oklahoma at 1 p.m. Saturday at KU’s Jayhawk Field.
