KU rolls Red Raiders

By Andy Samuelson     Apr 5, 2004

Jared Soares/Journal-World Photo
Jessica Moppin (7) touches home plate as her Kansas University softball teammates congratulate her. The sophomore infielder's solo home run helped the Jayhawks defeat Texas Tech, 4-1, Sunday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark.

Kansas University softball coach Tracy Bunge said she was not a soothsayer, but her prophetic powers certainly were above par this weekend.

For the second straight day Sunday, Bunge brought in a Jayhawk off the bench to pinch hit in a late-inning situation.

Much like Saturday’s substitution in which senior Sandy Smith stroked a game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh, Bunge’s sixth-inning move Sunday again paid off. Senior pinch hitter Sylvia Pfeiffer smacked a two-out single that added two insurance scores in KU’s 4-1 victory over Texas Tech at Arrocha Ballpark.

“They make me look smart,” Bunge quipped. “Of course, I looked dumb for the 18 times before that when I didn’t get it right.”

The Jayhawks (23-16-1, 2-3 Big 12 Conference) did little wrong, making it hard for Bunge to make blunders as Kansas swept the Red Raiders.

Jared Soares/Journal-World Photo
Kansas pitcher Kassie Humphreys winds up for a pitch against Texas Tech. The Jayhawks defeated the Red Raiders, 4-1, Sunday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark.

Lately for KU, it seems when its bats have been bad, Jayhawk pitchers have been productive.

Or vice versa.

Sunday both were blowing up.

Freshman pitcher Kassie Humphreys not only looked intimidating as she was the only player in the park wearing eye black. But she backed up her sun-stopping style with a career-best 13 strikeouts.

“When your offense is hitting and your defense is playing really well, it really takes you down a couple of notches, and you can just relax and pitch,” Humphreys said.

The right-hander from Glendale, Ariz., must have been really relaxed because she actually finished a game for the first time in three tries.

Twice this week Humphreys was involved with games that were halted because of darkness.

“It was nice to actually finish one,” she said, smiling. “Today was a really good day.”

Especially for the Jayhawks’ bats.

Kansas pounded out seven hits, the most KU has had in 10 games. But Bunge said she really was pleased about the timeliness of those hits.

“It was good to see some timely hitting, and have it two days in a row,” said Bunge, whose team tallied 12 hits in the two wins over Tech.

Destiny Frankenstein got the Jayhawks’ scoring started when she singled in Dani May in the third, but it was sophomore second baseman Jessica Moppin who provided the big blast in the fourth.

Moppin, who had 11 home runs as a freshman, connected on her first of the season to give KU a 2-0 lead.

“When I see somebody get a hit, I get pumped,” Moppin said. “Hitting is contagious, as coach always says. I think that kind of pumped us all up.”

With everything working well, Humphreys said she hoped KU could continue its luck in Wednesday’s Border War showdown at Missouri.

“I haven’t really been a part of that whole deal, but I guess they got something coming to them,” said Humphreys of the Tigers, who blew out the Jayhawks 13-1 in the two teams’ last game in Lawrence.

“We really feel good, the most confident we’ve been all season. It’s going to be a good game.”

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