Jon GoeringAfter hundreds of innings, thousands of hours and countless games, Kansas University softball catcher Brittany Hile did something Tuesday during KU’s doubleheader sweep of UMKC (5-1 and 1-0) that she never had done in her life.
With the bases loaded and the Jayhawks and Kangaroos knotted at 0 in the bottom of the third, Hile launched a fly ball to left center field that just kept going. With a simple swing of the bat — producing what Hile thought was a popup when she hit it — Hile had hit her first career grand slam.
“I was just hoping to poke something out there and get a couple of runs across the plate,” Hile said. “But hitting a grand slam is awesome. It gives you an adrenaline rush.”
What else it provides remains to be seen. Hile, a junior, said she was not aware of any forthcoming special treatment from her teammates
“You know, I think they should give me something,” Hile said jokingly.
Added KU coach Megan Smith: “We get a win from it, that’s what we get.”
Hile finished the opener 2-for-4, with a double and four RBIs.
Center fielder Alex Jones finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a run and an RBI.
Jones was key in Game Two, too. After Sara Ramirez and Marissa Ingle struck out to open the bottom of the fifth, Alicia Irwin reached on a walk. Jones slapped a spinner back to the mound. With Irwin rounding second, Jones raced toward first, where UMKC third baseman Danielle Ben threw wildly. Jones was given a hit, the ball bounced out of play and, because she was halfway to third, Irwin was awarded home after the wild throw.
“My job is to put the ball in play and use my speed to get on base,” Jones said. “They made a mistake because I did put the ball in play, and we won the game.”
KU improved to 16-17.
