Kansas University’s top softball pitcher surrendered a slug-bunt single, then struck out the next three Oklahoma State batters swinging.

But it was all downhill from there as the Cowgirls rolled to an 8-1 victory on Saturday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark.

“I’m my toughest critic,” said George, a junior right-hander. “Some days you don’t have your best stuff and that was me today. Everything was mediocre.”

Oklahoma State touched George for seven hits and three earned runs, including a two-run home run by Kim Kaye deep over the rightcenterfield fence, in four innings before coach Tracy Bunge switched to Allie Clark.

Mike Yoder

A freshman right-hander, Clark didn’t fare much better, surrendering six hits and four runs in the last three innings.

“We needed to be a little bit sharper in the circle and we weren’t,” Bunge said.

At the same time, the Jayhawks needed to be a little bit sharper at the plate as well. They managed just six hits off two OSU hurlers. KU’s lone run crossed on a one-out, fourth-inning solo home run by third baseman Val Chapple.

Most disappointing, however, was the pitching because the KU staff hadn’t allowed a run in 25 consecutive innings going into Saturday’s game.

Notably, however, those 25 goose eggs were against UMKC and Wichita State, and KU’s pitching has been much better against nonconference foes than against Big 12 Conference opponents.

Mike Yoder

KU’s overall team earned run average is about 21â2 runs a game. Against the Big 12, though, the team ERA is about 51â2 runs per game.

In amassing 13 hits, O-State handed KU its sixth straight league defeat. Once 4-3 in conference games, the Jayhawks are now 4-9. Oklahoma State climbed over .500 in league play at 8-7.

“Give credit to Oklahoma State,” Bunge said. “They came out swinging. Any mistake our pitchers made, they put in play.”

Meanwhile, the Jayhawks fanned nine times and hit the ball hard just twice – Chapple’s home run and Sara Ramirez ringing double to left-center with two outs in the seventh.

“We’ve got to be more aggressive tomorrow,” Bunge said.

The final game of the two-game set will be at 1 p.m. today. Bunge did not announce who would pitch, but George hopes she’ll receive an opportunity to redeem herself.

“Absolutely,” she said. “Any chance I get to pitch I’m going to take it.”

Notes: Several members of KU’s 1983, 1985 and 1986 NCAA Tournament teams coached by Bob Stanclift were honored before the game. Bunge played on all three of those teams. : George’s overall record is 17-8, but she’s just 3-6 in Big 12 contests.