Ames, Iowa ? Liz Kocon hit her ninth home run of the season, but it was Kansas University’s only run in a 3-1 setback to Iowa State on Sunday in the regular-season finale for both teams.
KU fell to 21-30 overall, 6-11 in the Big 12, while ISU improved to 25-28 and 7-11.
A two-run homer in the third inning gave the Cyclones a 2-0 lead, but in the Jayhawks’ next at-bat, Kocon cut the lead to one with her solo shot to center field.
Iowa State added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning with an RBI single to make the score 3-1.
KU senior Val Chapple and sophomore Sara Ramirez each had two hits.
The Cyclones’ Lauren Kennewell limited KU to just two hits in the final three innings to earn her first win of the season.
Kansas tallied six hits and stranded 10 runners, including six in scoring position.
Junior Sarah Vertelka tossed the first 41/3 innings for the Jayhawks and fell to 9-10 on the year after allowing eight hits and striking out two.
Senior Val George entered for Vertelka in the fifth inning to pitch the final 12/3 innings. She gave up two hits and fanned three batters in relief.
The Jayhawks will have a week to prepare for the Big 12 Softball Championship, which runs Friday-Sunday in Oklahoma City. Kansas, the tournament’s No. 9 seed, will play in the play-in game at 5 p.m. Friday against … Iowa State. The Cyclones are seeded eighth.