10B
SPORTS MONDAY. APRIL 26, 2010 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN KANSAN.COM
SOFTBALL
Kansas still winless at home in Big 12 play
BY ZACH GETZ
zgetz@kansan.com
twitter.com/zgetz
Freshman infielder Mariah Montgomery said this season has been frustrating at times. She said it's tougher that Kansas has had opportunities to win late in the game most of this season.
"We're right there," Montgomery said. "We've could've won most of our conference games that we've played so far."
Though Kansas was able to get hits, it struggled to move base runners and stranded nine runners in both games. Montgomery said it was frustrating to be close, but unable to score.
After Kansas was swept by Texas Tech, the team fell to 18-29 (1-13) and continues to hold its spot in last place in the Big 12 Conference while Texas Tech improved to 35-12 (7-8). Kansas has yet to win a conference game at home and has an overall record of 4-9 (0-7) at home.
"We just needed that hit to get the runners across," Montgomery said. "We just couldn't pull through and get it."
Kansas has had trouble putting together a complete game — certain parts of the team shine while others remain lackluster. Coach Megan Smith said it may be part of the reason the team has had so many ups and downs.
"We just haven't had people step up on a consistent basis, and that has definitely hurt us", Smith said.
In game one, Texas Tech started the game with a three-run homer in the top of the first and added a run in the third to go up 4-0. But Kansas would only allow Texas Tech to get one more hit in the last four innings.
In the bottom of the fourth Kansas had the bases loaded with two outs, but the game was delayed until the following morning because of inclement weather. After play resumed, Kansas scored its first run on a walk, but grounded out in the next at-bat, leaving three on base. Freshman Mariah Montgomery started off the fifth with a solo home run, her third in the last four games. But the Jayhawks failed to get another base runner as they fell 4-2 to the Red Raiders, even though Kansas outhit Texas Tech six to four.
"We did a good job hitting the ball," senior pitcher Sarah Vertelka said. "We just didn't score when we had the chance to."
In game two, Kansas took a quick 1-0 lead in the first, but would fail to score again. Texas Tech overtook the lead in the third when it rallied with two outs to score two runs and left three runners on base. The Red Raiders added two more runs in the fifth, and layhawks were unable to bring anyone home, falling 4-1.
SERIES RESULTS
"Our offense just flat-lined today."
Game 1:
Game 1:
Texas Tech 4, Kansas 2
Game 2:
Texas Tech 4, Kansas 1
UP NEXT Kansas vs. Wichita State
**WHEN:** 5 p.m. Wednesday
**WHERE:** Arrocha Ballpark,
Lawrence
Smith said. "Certainly didn't come to play, and that hurt us today."
Kansas will return to action in a non-conference home game against Wichita State 5 p.m. Wednesday before going to Norman, Okla., to start a two-game series with No. 13 Oklahoma.
— Edited by Becky Howlett
Freshman Marah Montgomery land a hit at the bottom of the third. The Red Bears led 4-0 at the bottom of the fourth Saturday afternoon when inclement weather caused a delay of game.
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
BIG 12 FOOTBALL Coffman vies for KSU quarterback
To see more photos from the Texas Tech matchup visit kansan.com.
MANHATTAN, Kan. — At the conclusion of Kansas State's spring practices, no Wildcat quarterback had established himself as the leading candidate for starter
On Saturday, Carson Coffman made his case.
Coffman completed 38 of 51 passes for 440 yards and seven touchdowns at Kansas State's annual Purple-White scrimmage at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Coffman, who started the first four games of the 2009 season before being replaced by former teammate Grant Gregory, wasted no time. He hit Brodrick Smith on a 15-yard scoring strike with 9:57 remaining in the first quarter and stayed hot for the rest of the night.
Coffman credited his teammates, saying it was an enjoyable experience for everyone.
No other quarterback threw for more than 73 yards.
He said confidence became an issue for him last season, and he's working to make sure that doesn't happen again.
NFL
Cowboys approach draft with Super Bowl XLV in mind
ASSOCIATED PRESS
IRVING, Texas — Owner Jerry Jones wouldn't go as far as declaring the Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl ready following the conclusion of the 2010 NFL Draft.
But he acknowledged he made moves with a 2010 Super Bowl run in mind.
He also said beyond a doubt that the team's draft that was headlined by two immediate impact players — receiver Dez Bryant and linebacker Sean Lee — had already made the Cowboys a better team than they were at the end of the 2009 season.
McClatchy-Tribune
Jones said the Cowboys, who won the NFC East with an 11-5
markbefore losing to the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional playoffs, are poised to take the next step.
"The kind of thing we did with this draft *n*. was to maybe address more quality than quantity, which logically tells you that, 'Hey, you feel pretty good about your team.' Jones said. "I think that what Sean Lee can bring immediately and Dez
and what we can get out of them, if we haven't materially improved with those guys we are already pretty excited about, then we did miss here."
The Cowboys thought so much of Bryant and Lee that they traded up in the first and second rounds, respectively, to secure their services, to ensure that this draft will be
remembered for the team sticking to its guns and taking quality over need.
But the Cowboys' work over the past three days should also be remembered as another vote of confidence in tackle Doug Free and a mulligan of sorts at safety.
Because of the release of tackle Flozell Adams and free safety Ken
Hamlin, those positions were considered the team's biggest positions of need going into the draft.
The Cowboys addressed them Saturday with developmental players in fourth-round pick Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, a safety out of Indiana (Pa.), and sixth-round pick Sam Young, an offensive tackle.
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