Kassie Humphreys admitted she was surprised. Nicole Washburn raised her eyebrows, too.
Kansas University softball coach Tracy Bunge discarded standard operating procedure Sunday, and the Jayhawks edged Texas Tech, 3-2, at Arrocha Ballpark.
For the first time since February, Bunge used Humphreys in the circle on back-to-back days.
“I was riding a hot arm,” Bunge said. “Kassie has been in such a groove. I really felt we needed to go out and shut them down, and that’s what Kassie has been doing.”
Humphreys stopped the Red Raiders, 1-0, on a four-hitter Saturday. On Sunday, the Jayhawks’ junior right-hander gave up just three hits. Both Tech runs were unearned after a first-inning error by first baseman Nicole Washburn.
“Nic is a gamer,” Bunge said. “When she makes a mistake, she takes it hard. But she handled it. She didn’t go out and mope.”
Not by a long shot. Washburn paced the Jayhawks’ 11-hit attack with three singles. She also drove in what proved to be the winning run in the fourth inning.
“I just wanted to put us back in the game after putting us in a hole,” Washburn said.
Washburn had been just as surprised as Humphreys before the game. Normally, Washburn, who went into Sunday’s game with a chilly .165 batting average, bats in the No. 8 slot, but Bunge moved her up to the No. 2 hole.
“I was surprised,” Washburn said, “but I was excited, too.”
Bunge has been searching for three weeks for a consistent batter behind leadoff hitter Val Chapple, and she took a chance on Washburn.
“I felt like over the last couple of games, she’s been able to put the ball in play,” Bunge said. “Right now, we’re searching, and Nic had a great day.”
So did a couple of part-timers. Ashley Goodrich, earning a rare start in right field, contributed a double and scored a run. And No. 9 hitter Betsy Wilson, hitting just .159, added a pair of singles and an RBI.
“I’m really pleased with the kids who picked us up,” Bunge said. “We’ve been relying all year on Serena (Settlemier) and we needed some other people to step up.”
Settlemier, who went 1-for-3 Sunday, usually pitches the second game of weekend Big 12 Conference contests, but Bunge played a hunch and used Humphreys instead.
“It’s no knock on Serena,” Bunge said. “But Kassie hadn’t thrown a lot of pitches Saturday, and she’s pitching as well as anybody in the country.”
Humphreys’ record climbed to 11-13 and her earned run average dipped to 1.31 after her unexpected start.
“I heard just after warm-ups and it was kind of shocking,” Humphreys said. “In the sixth and seventh, I got a little weak in the legs, but I knew Serena was ready and could come in.”
Humphreys whiffed eight, including the last two Red Raiders she faced. Kansas and Texas Tech are now tied in conference standings with identical 4-6 records.
Kansas (23-20 overall) will play host to Missouri at 5 p.m. Wednesday, then entertain league-leading Texas next Saturday and Sunday. Tech, is also 4-6 in league games and 18-26 overall.