Kansas University used four solo home runs to sweep a nonconference doubleheader, 3-2 and 1-0, with North Dakota State on Thursday at Arrocha Ballpark.
In the opener, the Bison scored in the first inning when Grete Peterson led off with a walk, moved to second on a ground out, moved to third on a dropped third strike and scored on a wild pitch.
The Jayhawks took a 2-1 lead with two solo home runs in the fourth. Reigning Big 12 Player of the Week Jessica Moppin nailed her ninth homer of the season, tying the school’s career home run record (23). The next hitter, Destiny Frankenstein, took her first pitch over the right-field wall for her 11th homer of the season.
The home-run derby continued in the bottom of the fifth when Elle Pottorf bounced a ball off the hood of a car in right center, giving the Jayhawks a 3-1 lead.
Meghan Norris homered to left in the top of the seventh to bring NDSU within one, but Kassie Humphreys struck out the final batter for the victory.
Humphreys (4-6) struck out six, walked two and allowed just two hits in the complete-game victory. The Jayhawks’ offense managed five hits off NDSU’s Alison Bakke (9-16) and Amber Garrett.
In the nightcap, Frankenstein put KU on top in the third inning with her second homer of the day and 12th of the season.
The blast tied the KU all-time single-season home-run record held by Leah Tabb (2001).
Settlemier (11-6) tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts, allowed five hits and walked none in her third complete-game shutout of the season.
Bekki Rasmussen (4-8) was saddled with the loss.
With the two victories, the Jayhawks extended their win streak to six and improved to 26-19 overall. The Bison, who matched the KU offense with seven hits, moved to 22-27 overall.
Kansas will return to Big 12 Conference action this weekend when it travels to Texas Tech for games at 2 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday in Lubbock, Texas.
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