Kansas University’s softball team started the 2006 season by shutting out #19 Florida, 6-0, and run-ruling Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 15-1, Friday in day one of the Wilson/Demarini Invitational. Despite a two-hour rain delay at Cougar Softball Stadium, the Jayhawks totaled 17 hits on the day while holding their opponents to just one run.
Senior Destiny Frankenstein led the Jayhawks with five RBI (.600 batting average), four runs and three hits — including two home runs on the day.
Against Florida, Kansas put its first run of the season on the board in the second inning. Frankenstein walked to lead off and moved to second on a slap bunt by freshman Val Chapple. Sophomore Betsy Wilson nailed a single off second base to bring in Frankenstein and give KU the lead.
The Jayhawks scored two runs off two Gator errors in the third inning. Junior Nicole Washburn led off the inning with a base hit and was pushed all the way home after a throwing error by the Florida catcher. Senior Heather Stanley, who reached on the error, scored from third when the shortstop couldn’t hold onto a pop-up from freshman Stevie Crisosto.
After loading the bases with two hits and a walk in the bottom of the fifth, junior Kassie Humphreys (1-0) fanned three Gators to get out of the jam. KU added to its lead in the sixth when Frankenstein and senior Serena Settlemier notched solo home runs. Crisosto singled in the seventh inning and was brought in by two Jayhawk hits to cap the KU victory, 6-0.
Humphreys totaled 10 strikeouts, walked one and allowed just five hits in the win. The Jayhawks had eight hits off three different Gator pitchers.
In the contest against the Islanders, KU held a 3-0 advantage when the game was suspended due to rain in the bottom of the third. The Jayhawks came back from the delay and scored eight runs in the inning off five hits, including Frankenstein’s second home run of the day.
The Jayhawks closed the game with four runs in the fourth inning. Settlemier (1-0) struck out 12 and gave up three hits in five innings of work. The Islanders committed five errors in the loss.
KU will continue tournament play Saturday against host Houston at 5 p.m. and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi immediately after.
Tuscaloosa, Ala. ? Kansas University split a pair of softball games Friday during the first day of the 2003 Crimson Classic at Alabama Stadium.
The Jayhawks (11-4) defeated Penn State, 4-2, in the opener before bowing to No. 13 Alabama, 2-1, in eight innings.
KU senior right-hander Kirsten Milhoan (4-1) turned in an impressive pitching effort to win the first game, tossing a perfect game through four innings. She finished with four strikeouts and allowed just two runs in her fourth straight complete game.
Freshman Jessica Moppin led the Jayhawks offensively, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Fellow freshmen Destiny Frankenstein and Heather Stanley scored the other two KU runs. Freshman Ashley Frazer and junior Sandy Smith both went 1-for-2 with an RBI.
In the second game, the Jayhawks were handed their fourth loss of the season and the third setback in their opponent’s final at-bat.
Alabama (14-5) scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning, ruining a respectable outing by KU starter Kara Pierce (7-3). She held the 13th-ranked team in the nation to two hits while fanning three.
KU freshman Melaney Torres, junior Mel Wallach and sophomore Lindsey Weinstein had the Jayhawks’ three hits off Crimson Tide starter Erin Wright, who also beat Kansas in 2001 when the teams last met.
“Before the season began, we talked about our pitching staff being the strength of our team,” KU head coach Tracy Bunge said. “Both Kirsten and Kara threw the ball extremely well for us today. Offensively, we are not firing on all cylinders, but we’re a young team and we’re still growing as an offensive unit.
“Against Penn State we found a way to win, but against a tough Alabama squad, we made too many mistakes and it cost us.”
Kansas next faces Texas-Arlington at 11 this morning. The Jayhawks also will play a second game at either 4:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. today against a to-be-determined opponent.
Santa Barbara, Calif. ? Kansas University’s Kara Pierce tossed her third consecutive shutout as the Jayhawks won their opening game of the Softball by the Beach Tournament, 6-0, Friday against Cal Poly.
Pierce, a junior right-hander, allowed just three hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.
KU’s freshmen led the Jayhawks’ offense. Ashley Frazer was 3-for-3 — including two doubles — with a run and a pair of RBIs, while freshmen Destiny Frankenstein and Melaney Torres each hit home runs.
Cal Poly 000 000 0 — 0 3 3
W-Kara Pierce (6-1). L-Jamie Gelbart (2-2).
2B-Kansas: Mel Wallach, Ashley Frazer 2. HR-Kansas: Destiny Frankenstein, Melaney Torres.
