Section B·Page 10
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, April 12. 2000
Pitcher gets past nervousness
Continued from page 1B
Stanwix hit a dribbler toward the Missouri's first baseman who threw it home. But it was too late.
"Most runners are out at the plate," coach Tracy Bunge said. "She got a great jump."
Mussuer's speed gave her enough time to slide past the tag at home, giving the 'Hawks a 2-1 victory against a Missouri team that beat them last week in Columbia, Mo. The win moved Kansas' record to 22-23 overall and 2-8 in the Big 12. Missouri dropped to 29-17 overall and 5-5 in the Big 12.
"I just put my head down and ran as fast as I could." Musser said. "I was
trying to get in the plate, and if I didn't score I was trying to break up the double play."
Missouri had walked the bases loaded, giving second baseman Amy Hulse and designated player Leah Tabb free passes, which set up a force out at any base. It may have been a questionable strategy, but it is not uncommon. Bunge said she would have done the same thing but did not have to.
"It changes depending on whether you're home or visitor, and it depends on what happens in the top half of the inning." Bunge said. "We were trying to move Shelly over."
She said Missouri's decision to load
the bases let her decide whether to let Urquhart swing or bunt her over. Then when Stanwix came up, the decision was simple for Bunge.
"With no strikes I let her swing, and she hit it to the right side," Bunge said. It also helped that Kansas' pitcher Melanie DeWinter did not let her nerves get the best of her.
"Mel was outstanding today," Bunge said, "After the first inning she was really ready to shut it down. She was nervous."
In spite of her nervousness, she allowed only seven hits and had three strike outs.
This win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Jayhawks.
McPhail rebounds from slump with stellar game
That home run knotted the score at one run apiece and proved to be the lifeline to Kansas' 2-1 extrimming victory against the Tigers.
Continued from page 1B
"You talk about rising to the occasion," said Bunge, whose team improved to 22-23 overall and 2-8 in the Big 12 Conference. "That was a big at-bat for her."
McPhail finished the afternoon with two hits in four at-bats, but her production at the plate was only half of the story.
The senior had four consecutive
put-outs at shortstop spanning the seventh and eighth innings. She finished the game with a game-high six assists. She even came up with a potential game-saver in the top of the 10th inning.
The Tigers had runners at first and third with one out and Missouri outfielder Kristen Burke up at the plate. Burke hit a blooper past the pitcher, and Missouri's Dara Throneburg, who was on third base, went blazing for home.
McPhail fielded the ball cleanly, whipped it to Kansas catcher Heather Sims at home plate, and
Throneburg was gunned down.
The Jayhawks escaped the rest of the inning unscathed, and ended up winning the game in the bottom of the inning.
"I think Christy McPhail did a superior job at shortstop." Bunge said. "Give a lot of credit to her. She had a great day defensively and was a big difference in the ball game."
The win broke a five-game losing streak for the Jayhawks and ended their home stand on a winning note. The 'Hawks will play a double header today against Wichita State
Shortstop
Christy McPhail
is congratulated
by her team-
mates after hit-
ting a solo home
run to score at 1-1
against
Missouri.
Photo by Jay
Sheperd/
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