6B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2009
SOFTBALL
Kansas loses two one-run games against Creighton
Jayhawks performed solidly in both games
BY TOM POWERS
tpowers@kansan.com
The Jayhawks just can't seem to catch a break as the Creighton Bluejays did just enough to squeak by and steal two victories Wednesday during a chilly doubleheader at Arrocha Ballpark.
Kansas suffered two tightly contested one-run losses. Creighton barely etched out a 2-1 victory in the first game with a suicide squeeze in the top of the fifth inning. Game two went into extra innings, ending 4-3 in the tenth on a sacrifice fly by Bluejay first baseman Renae Sinkler.
"Those were two good ball-games," coach Tracy Bunge said in a postgame interview. "Creighton's a very good ball club, they've got an all region kid on the mound and they hit the ball well. I'm not displeased with our play."
Kansas indeed played two solid ball games, the first being a pitcher's duel. Jayhawk senior Val George racked up a career-high fourteen strikeouts in the first game, allowing only two runs on five hits in a complete game performance.
"My riseball was my most effective pitch today," George said after the game.
Also pitching a complete game,
Creighton's Tara Oltman recorded eight strikeouts, holding the Jayhawks to one run on four hits.
Kansas' sole run came in the bottom of the seventh off of a towering home run shot over the left field wall by left fielder Alice Clark.
In game two, the layhawks got off to a hot start in a hurry. Third baseman Val Chapple and right fielder Liz Kocon got the layhawks on the board in the first inning, both scoring on a pair of singles. The Bluejays answered back quickly, scoring one run in the top of the second inning and two in the third. Kansas knotted up the score in the fifth inning with an RBI double by Kocon before suffering the loss on Sinkler's sacrifice fly in the tenth.
box score
Creighton 2, Kansas 1
WP: Tre Oltman (13-5)
LP: Val George (7-9)
HR: Rena Sinkler (CU, 5)
HI: Allie Clark (KU, 3)
Creighton 4, Kansas 3
WP: Tara Olltan (14-5)
LP: Valge (7-10)
HP: Lepal (7-10)
Kansas battled all afternoon and came away with nothing to show for it, so it comes as no surprise that what's plaguing the fayhawks is a lack of confidence.
Chance Dibben/KANSAN
"It's definitely been a big issue this season," senior center fielder Dougie McCaulley said. The lack in confidence was personified with the play of shortstop Stevie Crisosto.
Crisoto was pulled in the second inning of yesterday's contest against Missouri State and, after committing her tenth error of the season in the top of the seventh inning of the first game, was replaced by sophomore Kolby Fesmire in the second game versus Creighton. It visibly affected her overall performance.
"Stevie is an experienced senior, a player that has been there and fought the good fight." Bunge said of the struggling Crisosto. "She's a good hitter, she just needs to compartmentalize. She's not pouting or putting her head down, she's in it for her teammates."
Kansas will have to regain that confidence in a hurry as it faces No. 23 Texas A&M in a two-game series this weekend. The Aggies were last year's runner up in the NCAA College World Series, losing to Arizona State in two straight games. The games will be at 2 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday in Arrocha Ballpark.
Pitcher Sarah Vertelka, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., junior, pitches during the second game of Wednsday's doubleheader against Creighton. The Jayhawks lost to the Bluejays in both games. They lost the first 2-1 and the second 4-3.
— Edited by Liz Schubauer
Chance Dibble/KANSAN
First baseman
Amanda Jobe,
shawnee junior,
slides into third base
during Wednesday's
game against the Bluejays. Creighton
swept Kansas in the
doubleheader, winning the first match
2-1 and the second
4-3.
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