Austin, Texas ? The Kansas University softball team could not quiet Texas’ bats as the Jayhawks fell, 12-0 in five innings, to the No. 8/10 Longhorns on Saturday afternoon at McCombs Field.
With the loss in its first Big 12 Conference road game, KU fell to 26-6 overall, including 0-3 in Big 12 play. Texas extended an 11-game winning streak as it improved to 27-3 in its conference opener.
UT pitchers Blaire Luna (16-2) and Rachel Fox kept the Jayhawks off of the bases for much of the game as KU was unable to collect a hit until the fifth inning, when freshman Kendra Cullum and sophomore Alex Jones hit back-to-back singles.
But Kansas stranded both runners.
Despite no hits through the first four frames, Kansas reached base five times, including loading the bases in the second.
Sophomore Maggie Hull led off the second inning with a hit by pitch and eventually advanced to third after walks to senior Brittany Hile and sophomore Rosie Hull.
On the next play, though, junior Marissa Ingle grounded into a double play, and Cullum struck out swinging to end the inning.
Texas scattered 11 hits, including two home runs, off a trio of KU pitchers. Freshman Kristin Martinez tossed the first inning to suffer just her second loss.
Jones and junior Ashley Spencer also saw time from the circle for the Jayhawks.
KU and Texas will square off again at noon today.
