4B
Monday, March 4, 1996
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Softball team nabs second place finish
Kansan staff.report
After taking a week off, it took the No. 17 Kansas softball team a while to get going.
But once the Jayhawks got started this weekend, they almost didn't stop. They won six of seven games at New Mexico State Invitational at Las Cruces, N.M., and placed second.
"We played pretty damn good at times," Kansas coach Gayle Luedek said. "Anytime you can go 6-1 in a tournament like this, you have to be pleased."
Kansas, 11-3 overall after the tournament, opened the tournament with victories against New Mexico, 1-0, and Southern Colorado. 6-0.
Pitcher Sarah Workman earned a complete game shutout against New Mexico, allowing just two hits. The Jayhawk pitching grew even stinger against Southern Colorado as Beth Robinson and Courtney Wilson combined for a one-hit shutout.
"Sarah got in a jam in the seventh, but she fought back and got us out of that," Luedek said. "She stuck through it and made the pitches. Courtney and Beth did the same thing."
On Friday, the hitters got to work as Kansas won games against Stephen F. Austin, 12-1, and Texas Tech, 6-2. Sophomore shortstop
Michelle Hubler had one home run and three RBI against Stephen F. Austin, and sophomore catcher Kristina Johnson pounded out four RBI in the day's second game.
Then, Holland went two for three as the Jayhawks defeated Texas-Arlington 6-0.
Sophomore catcher Sarah Holland provided the offensive spark in Kansas' first two games Saturday. She belted her first career home run and went three for four in a 3-2 victory against Colorado State.
"Our pitching has been pretty good; it helps to take the pressure off the hitters," Luedke said. "But when you're hitting the ball well, you know you're going to be able to score some runs."
Despite scoring 11 runs against No. 16 Minnesota in their third game Saturday, Kansas lost 12-11 in extra innings. The Jayhawks led 8-1 in the sixth inning before the Gophers tied the score in the seventh.
"We played as hard as we could,
but they just outlugged us," Luedke said.
"It helps build character. I saw a lot of character from this team in that game."
The loss halted a 10-game winning streak, but Kansas' offensive outburst pleased Luedke.
"When you are on a roll, it's contagious," she said. "We are hitting pretty well and consistently."
'Hawks qualify for meet
Kansan staff report
Three Jayhawks provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championship last weekend at the Last Chance Meet in Ames, Iowa.
Kansas junior spinner Brian Martin won the 400-meters and provisionally qualified for next week's indoor championship in Indianapolis.
Martin crossed the finish line in 46.65 seconds which was almost one second faster than his previous best of 47.63 at the Jayhawk Invitational Feb. 3.
Kansas senior Melissa Swartz set a personal record in the mile with a second place finish and provisional qualifying time of 4:44.81. Swartz's previous best in the mile was 4:50.59 at the KSU-KU-MU Triangular Meet on Jan.27.
Swartz has already provisionally qualified for the indoor championships in the 3,000-meters, the distance medley and the mile. Swartz competed in the mile in Ames to improve her time and to gain experience in the event.
Prior to last weekend's meet, she had competed in the mile only once this season.
Kansas senior Sarah Heeb improved her previous best time by 55 seconds in the 5,000-meters.
Heeb placed seventh and provisionally qualified with a time of 16:55.03.
Kansas juniors Michael Evers and Matt Norton also competed, however, they did not hit provisional qualifying marks. Evers vaulted 16-8 3/4 inches in the pole vault, while Norton finished the 800-meters in 1:51.47.
A provisional qualification does not guarantee a spot in the NCAA meet, but that time or score must be beaten for them not to go.
Today's Birthday (March 4). You could get into a partnership this year that will last for life. Your experience helps you choose right in March. Invest in love in April. Travel in November, and make a career move in December. A friend brings luck in January. Secret negotiations are necessary to complete an unusual deal in February. It's a relief to have it done.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec.)
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).
Your friends can help with a romantic problem. Let them in on the secret. Don't flirt with a coworker unless you're serious. He or she doesn't have much of a sense of humor. Take action this morning to get what you want.
Tonight, study your next move.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
First, finish a job that should have gone out last week. You work faster when you relax and trust your intuition. Meanwhile, studying esoteric subjects leads to a deeper knowledge of yourself.
Tonight, stay home, and work on a fantasy project.
21) . Watch out for unexpected changes this morning. Things may not be the way you left them. Be patient with an angry roommate. He or she may be under more pressure than you realized. You'll be lucky with money late tonight. Buy your lottery ticket then.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan 19).
Distant danger could affect your holdings this morning. Make contact with one who knows as soon as possible. Find out what's going on behind the scenes. Conditions become more favorable tonight.
Place a long distance call then, when rates are low.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18).
Don't invest too much in a shaky deal this morning. It could get worse before it gets better. Talk, in private, with an older person who has more money than you do.
This person can give you advice you never would have thought of on your own.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20).
Follow a practical partner's advice today, and you'll finish in less time. A new assignment this morning could be confusing. Ask
for clarification before you do it wrong. It's a pretty good time to ask for a raise, too.
Arles (March 21-April 19).
Push hard to finish an overdue project. Do well, and you could earn a promotion. Goof off, and a switch may tell the boss. You're strong and good-looking. To make points today, you also need to be a perfectionist. Tonight, get off the beaten path.
Taurus (April 20-May 20).
Romance is a breeze and so is business. If you and your mate work together, you can have it all.
Reward yourselves with the promise of a dreamy cruise. Gather with friends this morning, to help those less fortunate. If you can't travel tonight, go via video.
Gemini (May 21-June 21).
There's excitement in the air.
Changes at home and at work could have you jumping. If you have questions, ask them now because tomorrow will be too late. A misunderstanding with your mate early this morning will fester if you don't dig it out right away.
Cancer (June 22-July 22).
Your powers are amazing today.
Use them for good and to get the best deal on a cruise to Tahiti.
Your favorite sibling has juicy gossip for you this morning, so call. Studying business with your mate will be a way to bond tonight.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22). Focus on financial matters today. Get everything figured out so you know exactly what you have. You need to buy new athletic equipment, and your local mall may be just about to have a killer sale. A friend wants to play with you tonight.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). An accident this morning could threaten to make you late for work. Advise against hasty behavior. Go ahead and ask for what you want later tonight. You're so cute you just might get it. Set a goal you and your sweetie can work on together.
Note: Horoscopes have no basis in scientific fact and are for entertainment purposes only.
Men's golf team hopes to get back into the swing
By Spencer Duncan Kansan sportswriter
ready to play."
The Kansas men's golf team is hoping to shake off the last of its winter sluggishness in Louisiana today.
After dashing off the golf clubs last weekend and finishing fifth in the first tournament of the spring season, the Jayhawks hope to finish higher today.
"We are already ahead of where we were last year," Kansas senior Alan Stearns said. "We started off slow last weekend, but I think we are
The team will play today and tomorrow in the Louisiana Classics Invitational. The tournament consists of 15 teams, including Big Eight rival Colorado and future Big 12 Conference members Baylor, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.
Two rounds of 18 holes will be played today, and the tournament will conclude with a final 18-hole round tomorrow. All play will be held at the par-72 Oakbourne Country Club in Lafayette, La.
Stearns, senior Dan Rooney, junior Kit Grove, freshman Chris Thompson and senior Slade Adams.
Competing for Kansas will be
Stearns and Thompson are coming off top-25 finishes in the Ron Smith Invitational in South Florida and want to make an impact today.
"I am playing consistently right now, Thompson said. "I hope to just play well for myself and the team."
The team is eager for today's match because the players believe that they could have played better last weekend.
"I think we were content with the
way we played," Stearns said. "But we started out slow. After you haven't really played all winter it is sometimes hard to start right away and play well. This time we should not have that problem."
While the winter weather may have kept Kansas off the golf course, the players are confident that they will be a team to reckon with during the season.
"We are hoping to make steady improvements through the season until the Big Eight and NCAA tournaments," Thompson said.
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