Aaron Lindberg/Journal-World PhotoKansas University’s softball team pounded six home runs in a doubleheader sweep Tuesday of Oklahoma City University at Jayhawk Field.
The 24th-ranked Jayhawks (20-8) hit two homers in the opener and won, 9-3. KU connected for four more in the second game, winning 6-1.
Freshman Jessica Moppin tied KU’s freshman home run record after blasting three homers in two games, giving her eight on the season and tying Keli May’s 1980 mark.
“She’s definitely going to break the record, after already hitting eight this early in the season,” KU coach Tracy Bunge said. “We thought that she had that kind of potential and it’s nice to actually see it come around so soon.”
The Jayhawks trailed, 2-1, in the first game when Destiny Frankenstein scored on a fielder’s choice from Mel Wallach. With Wallach on first, Moppin blasted her first homer, giving KU a 4-2 lead.
The Jayhawks never trailed again, pounding a season-high 14 hits against the Stars (15-7).
KU added three more in the fourth. Nettie Pierros opened the inning with a home run, and the Jayhawks scored twice more on runs from Dani May and Frankenstein.
Junior Kara Pierce improved to 12-6 when she picked up the complete-game win, allowing three runs and striking out six.
KU opened the second game with one run in the first, then got hot. Freshman Melaney Torres hit a solo homer in the fourth, and Moppin followed two batters later with her second home run of the day. Torres and junior Sandy Smith each hit solo homers in the fifth, and Moppin hit her third home run in the sixth.
Senior Kirsten Milhoan held the Stars to one run and seven hits, improving to 8-2 with the complete-game win.
“It was important to get our confidence back and our feet underneath us,” Bunge said.
KU resumes league play with a trip to Ames, Iowa, Saturday to play Iowa State. First pitch is 2 p.m.
Aaron Lindberg/Journal-World PhotoKansas University’s softball team pounded six home runs in a doubleheader sweep Tuesday of Oklahoma City University at Jayhawk Field.
The 24th-ranked Jayhawks (20-8) hit two homers in the opener and won, 9-3. KU connected for four more in the second game, winning 6-1.
Freshman Jessica Moppin tied KU’s freshman home run record after blasting three homers in two games, giving her eight on the season and tying Keli May’s 1980 mark.
“She’s definitely going to break the record, after already hitting eight this early in the season,” KU coach Tracy Bunge said. “We thought that she had that kind of potential and it’s nice to actually see it come around so soon.”
The Jayhawks trailed, 2-1, in the first game when Destiny Frankenstein scored on a fielder’s choice from Mel Wallach. With Wallach on first, Moppin blasted her first homer, giving KU a 4-2 lead.
The Jayhawks never trailed again, pounding a season-high 14 hits against the Stars (15-7).
KU added three more in the fourth. Nettie Pierros opened the inning with a home run, and the Jayhawks scored twice more on runs from Dani May and Frankenstein.
Junior Kara Pierce improved to 12-6 when she picked up the complete-game win, allowing three runs and striking out six.
KU opened the second game with one run in the first, then got hot. Freshman Melaney Torres hit a solo homer in the fourth, and Moppin followed two batters later with her second home run of the day. Torres and junior Sandy Smith each hit solo homers in the fifth, and Moppin hit her third home run in the sixth.
Senior Kirsten Milhoan held the Stars to one run and seven hits, improving to 8-2 with the complete-game win.
“It was important to get our confidence back and our feet underneath us,” Bunge said.
KU resumes league play with a trip to Ames, Iowa, Saturday to play Iowa State. First pitch is 2 p.m.
