MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2012
PAGE 4B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SOFTBALL
Kansas honors seniors with win over Texas Tech
ALEC TILSON
atilson@kansan.com
Saturday was a memorable and emotion-filled day for Kansas softball. The team honored its five senior members, and the walk-off 5-4 victory over No. 24 Texas Tech that followed only made the day sweeter.
"Senior Day is a nerve-wracking day, not just for the seniors but for the underclassmen because they want to win it for the seniors. It makes all of this," coach Megan Smith said, looking at the celebration around her, "a lot more fun."
Kansas (31-17, 6-14) trailed 4-1 entering the bottom of the sixth,
recording just four hits in five innings.
Junior outfielder Maggie Hull said that was when the game turned.
"In our team huddle we just said, 'guys we're doing it for the seniors, we're doing it for Kansas, we're doing it for Regionals'." Hull said. "That when we all believed."
Kansas' next three batters reached safely to load the bases with no outs for freshman third baseman Chanin Naudin.
Naudin, who's been one of KU's clutch hitters this season, smacked a 0-2 pitch for a single down the left field line, scoring two runs on what Hull called "the biggest hit of
the game."
In the top of the seventh, sophomore pitcher Kristin Martinez (6-2) continued her strong outing, holding the Red Raiders (38-14, 11-9) in check after entering the game in the third inning. Martinez threw four-and-one-third innings and allowed one earned run on five hits.
Kansas, trailing 4-3, had the top of the order due up with three outs remaining.
And it all came together.
Leadoff hitter sophomore Elsa Moyer hit an infield single and brought the winning run to the plate.
Hull roped a double to center field, knocking in the speedy Moyer and moving the winning run to second. Still no outs.
Texas Tech, with first base open, opted to walk Kansas' freshman first baseman Maddie Stein, presumably to keep force-outs in order, which brought junior shortstop Mariah Montgomery to the plate.
Montgomery, whose second- inning home run gave the Jayhawks an early 1-0 lead, looked at a first-pitch ball before driving a single to the gap in left field. Hull scored from second and Kansas won 5-4.
The team captain's game-winning RBI tied her for fifth all-time in a single season at Kansas with 45. But she didn't do it for the record books.
"It was undoubtedly for the seniors," Montgomery said with tears in her eyes. "Love those guys, been with them for three years and it will be a sad day to see them go. That was definitely for them."
Five seniors - infielders Kelsey Alsdorf and Marissa Ingle, catcher Leah Dalber, outfielder Liz Kocon and pitcher Ashley Spencer – were honored after what would be their final game at Arrocha Ballpark.
Sunday's contest was cancelled due to rain and will not be rescheduled.
Montgomery said the victory meant more than winning a game for the seniors.
postseason, " she said. "That gives us a little better chance of getting there. It might be the biggest win of the year."
The first game of the series was postponed due to rain and lightning in the fifth inning on Friday evening. Kansas trailed 3-1 at that point, and the teams resumed play Saturday at noon. Texas Tech went on to win 4-1.
"That's a huge win to get us to
TRACK AND FIELD
Kansas takes on Texas A&M in College Station, Texas this weekend for its final three games of the regular season.
— Edited by Caroline Kraft
No matter the distance, Dixon remains a competitive runner
MAX GOODWIN
mgoodwin@kansan.com
Friday was an exceptionally impressive day of races for sophomore Diamond Dixon. She won both the 100-meter and 200-meter event titles at the Bill Williams/Bob Laptad Invitational. This was not the first time she has won multiple titles in one day. But Dixon had something to prove on Friday.
The first thing you should know about Diamond Dixon on the track is that she is a competitive athlete who strives to be the best. Dixon is a very good 400-meter runner; she was the 2011 Big 12 champion and the 2012 NCAA indoor champion. On top of that, Dixon is determined.
this year.
There is one thing, however,
that Dixon claims she is not—an
800-meter runner. She said she sees
herself as more of a 200-meter runner.
Of course she is a 400-meter
runner first and foremost, but is
she a spinner or a distance runner?
Does she run with speed or endurance?
Where does the balance lie for
someone so talented?
"I don't really want to turn into a 400/800 runner, I want to be a 400/200 runner." Dixon said earlier
Coach Stanley Redwine was a two-time U.S. Champion in the 800-meter. He qualified for the Olympic trials in the event five times from 1980 to 1996 before going into coaching. Dixon is thankful for everything her coach teaches her, but she has one disagreement with him.
"He believes I'm an 800 runner" Dixon said. "I beg to differ. I know it helps though, that's why I do it." Teammate Danesha Morris overheard Dixon's statement and said with a laugh, "She's an 800 runner."
Dixon trusts her coach, and that's why she came to Kansas two years ago. She knows that Redwine is sincere and knows what will help her improve on the track, but she prefers to run with speed in shorter distances. Dixon won an 800-meter event title at the Emporia State Relays after Redwine encouraged her to run the event.
On Friday Redwine gave Dixon the opportunity to run short-distance events in Joplin, Mo. She won both the 200-meter and the 100-meter events. Her time of 23.13 seconds in the 200-meter is now the fastest on the team. Even faster than junior Paris Daniels, the National Junior College 200-meter champion
last year at Coffeyville. Dixon ranks tenth in the nation in the 200-meter with that time.
So, Diamond is a spinner, she is also the defending 400-meter Big 12 champion, and she is even a pretty good 800-meter runner whether she admits it or not.
"Diamond is an athlete and she's going to compete in whatever event she's on the track to do." Redwine said. "Any time she steps on the track she's going to give it her all."
No matter how far away the finish line is, Dixon will run as fast as she can to reach it first; that is what you should remember about Diamond Dixon.
Edited by Caroline Kraft
VISIT KANSAN.COM FOR MORE TRACK AND FIELD RESULTS
Sophomore Diamond Dixon runs across the finish line to place first in the Women's 4x400 Meter Relay on April 21 at the Kansas Relays. The Kansas women set new Kansas and Kansas Relays records with a time of 3:31.87.
TARA BRYANT/KANSAN