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SPORTS / THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2011 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
Chris Bronson/KANSAN
Sophomore infielder Mariah Montgomery dives into second base with the ball in her glove to force out the Oklahoma base runner in the second game of a double header at Arrocha Ballpark. Montgomery went 1-3 with one walk in the Jayhawks 6-12 defeat to Oklahoma. The Jayhawks continue to winless in Bia 12 play.
The Jayhawks cannot seem to shake the Sooners' triumphs
BY HANNAH WISE hwise@kansan.com
In the bottom of the fifth inning junior third baseman Marissa Ingle steps up to the plate to hammer a double to the center field wall, beginning the Jayhawk's comeback. The No. 14/15 Oklahoma Sooners generated an eight-run deficit for the Kansas offense to fight. However, a lack of consistency from the circle and numerous defensive errors allowed Oklahoma to take any momentum away from Kansas and to capitalize on it.
"Getting things started for a lead-off batter is a huge thing." Ingle said. "It builds for my team. I get on base then we get some walks and then we get a home run so it gets us a lot of runs on the board."
Senior catcher and offensive threat Brittany Hile was next at bat and was walked, putting runners on first and second. The team built momentum and helped junior outfielder Kelsey Alsdorf to make contact for a strong hit to centerfield. The hit gave Ingle enough time to reach home for the first Jayhawk run of the night.
Sophomore second baseman Mariah Montgomery hit a single and loaded the bases. Sophomore outfielder Maggie Hull hit a double to drive Hile and Alsdorf home setting the score at 8-3, still in the Sooners' favor. Freshman designated player Laura Vickers hit a three-romer homing in Montgomery and Hull and decreasing the Jayhawk deficit
to two runs at 8-6.
Vickers' home run was the last offensive play by the Jayhawks in game one. The team was unable to score again for the remainder of the contest; they were unable to hold momentum to carry them through the rest of the night.
That, combined with poor defensive work, allowed the Sooners to respond by pulling away, tallying four runs in the top of the sixth. The game ended as an Oklahoma victory, 12-6, over the Jayhaws.
The Kansas offense continued to slump in the second game with only six hits to Oklahoma's 20. The Sooners made use of their short game to put runners on base in both contests. They capitalized on consistency at the plate loading the bases with singles and then a power hitter was ready to hammer in a home run.
"They are a very talented team," coach Megan Smith said, "They always are. They are one of the best in the country."
The Jayhawk offense worked to fight back in both games to get out of possible run-rule situations. In the first game, it was Ingle's hit. In the second game, sophomore Maggie Hull hit a three-run home run to bring the team back from being down 9-1 in the bottom of the fifth.
Hull also hit a double in the bottom of the fifth of the first game to crack the Top 10 most doubles in a single season. She also is tied for seventh in total RBIs in a single
season at 37.
Hile led the offense in the nightcap with two solo home runs. The homers broke a hitting slump that Hile had been in since the beginning of Big 12 play. They were both sparks to the teams mentality, but the defense and pitching fell short leading to a loss of momentum.
"When we get a bunch of runs we need to shut them down and not let them get back in the game," Hile said.
The defense suffered from five errors in the first game but cut them down to one error in the night cap. Despite the improvement in the defensive play, the Jayhawk pitchers did not perform.
The three pitchers — senior Allie Clark, junior Ashley Spencer and freshman Kristin Martinez — totaled eight strikeouts on the night. They committed 18 errors as a staff.
"Obviously we have some problems in the circle," Smith said, "That is evident."
The team will be working to keep the offensive momentum going and to increase intensity from the circle before they face No. 21 Oklahoma State in Stillwater for the weekend series.
"We are going to work them hard and get them in a good mental state before we go to Stillwater," Smith said. The Jayhawks are now 0-8 in conference play and 27-12 overall, after losses 12-6 and 13-5 to Oklahoma.
Edited by Brittany Nelson
Chris Bronson/KANSAN
Sophomore outfieldier Maggie Hull celebrates after smashing the three-run homerun in the bottom of the fifth inning during the second game of the double header against Oklahoma Wednesday night at Arrocha Ballpark. Hull went 1-4 with two RB's in Jayhawks 6-12 loss to Oklahoma. The Jayhawks are now 27-12 for the season, and 0-8 in Big 12 play.
Wednesday
Game 1
Kansas 6
Oklahoma 12
Game 2
Oklahoma 13
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
Kansas 5
Sophomore outfielder Julie Jenkins throws the ball inside. Kansas fell in the first game of the double header 12-6.
Chris Bronson/KANSAN
Junior infielder Marissa Lingle rushes to the sideline and nearly comes down with the catch during the second game of a double header against Oklahoma.
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