Wilson, Kansas topple Raiders

By Chuck Woodling     Mar 30, 2008

Mike Yoder
Valerie George delivers a pitch against Texas Tech. KU swept Texas Tech, 1-0, 12-7, at Arrocha Ballpark on Saturday and improved to 27-8 on the season.

Two forgettable years at Arizona followed by two undistinguished seasons at Kansas hardly have been foreshadowing for Betsy Wilson’s final college softball season.

The usually light-hitting Wilson went 4-for-4 with 6 RBIs as the Jayhawks outlasted Texas Tech, 12-7, and swept a doubleheader Saturday at Arrocha Ballpark.

KU won the opener, 1-0, behind Valerie George’s three-hitter, but Wilson created the most buzz.

“She’s a fifth-year senior, and she had a day every kid dreams of,” Kansas coach Tracy Bunge said. “She sat for two years at Arizona, and she has struggled here, but it was a career day for her.”

Wilson signed with the Wildcats after graduating from Salina South High in 2003.

“I had been impressed with Arizona ever since I saw them in the College World Series,” Wilson said.

During her freshman year in the spring of 2004, all Wilson did in Tucson, Ariz., was pinch-run. Then she came down with an illness and decided to red-shirt in 2005.

“After that, I just wanted to go back to Kansas,” she said, “so my parents could see me play.”

Jeff and Vicki Wilson never saw their daughter play any better than she did Saturday when she singled twice, doubled and hit a three-run line-drive home run over the left field fence in the third inning. Oh, and she stole home in the Jayhawks’ three-run sixth.

“I don’t think it gets any better than today,” Wilson said with a smile.

Until this spring, Wilson never had hit a home run. Not even in high school.

“Oh, I hit some homers in high school, but never ones than went over the fence,” she said. “The fence always got in the way.”

Saturday’s line shot was her third of the season and, of course, her career.

If Wilson continues to hit like she did Saturday, Bunge may have to consider elevating her out of the No. 9 hole in the batting order.

“If she keeps doing it we might need to,” Bunge said, “but the added bonus is she’s getting on base for the batters at the top of the order.”

In the first game, Wilson was a quiet 1-for-2. KU scored the game’s only run on Val Chapple’s sacrifice fly in the first inning following two walks and a Tech error.

George made the narrow lead stand up by stranding seven Tech runners to notch her 13th win in 15 decisions.

Kansas (27-8 overall, 2-2 Big 12) will travel Wednesday to Creighton for a twinbill, then go to Baylor next weekend. Texas Tech slipped to 9-27, 1-4.

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