Jacksonville, Fla. ? A nine-run sixth inning doomed Kansas University to a 12-8 softball loss to UNC Greensboro on Sunday in the final game of the River City Classic.
Kansas (2-3) collected 11 hits off Stephanie Bryden (3-0) and carried a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but Greensboro (3-1) exploded for nine runs.
Alexis Reid (0-3) took the loss after allowing six runs — all earned — off five hits over 11/3 innings.
Kansas scored two in the top of the seventh, but left the bases loaded to end it.
“This weekend was a learning weekend,” KU coach Megan Smith said. “That’s how we are approaching it. We’re disappointed, but we’ve learned a lot about our team. These types of lessons are invaluable, and it’s just the first weekend. Like I told the team, ‘Your season is not determined by how you do your first weekend.’ So we will get back to work this week.”
Daniella Chavez went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs to pace KU’s offense. Briana Evans also went 3-for-4, and Jessie Roane was 2-for-4 with two runs, a home run and an RBI. Shannon McGinley homered in three at-bats and had three RBIs.
Kansas will play Friday-Sunday in the Fresno State Kickoff Classic.
Kansas 300 030 2 — 8 11 0
UNC Greensboro 201 009 x — 12 13 0
W — Stephanie Bryden, 3-0. L -Alexis Reid, 0-3.
2B — Chaley Brickey, KU; Lindsay Thomas, Bryden, UNCG. HR — Daniella Chavez, Jessie Roane, Shannon McGinley, KU.
Kansas highlights — Brickey 3-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBIs; Briana Evans 3-for-4; Roane 2-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBIs; McGinley 1-for-3, R, 3 RBIs.
