WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2006
SOFTBALL
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
3B
Randall Sanders/KANSAN
Senior pitcher Serena Settlemier throws against Iowa State on Sunday in Lawrence, Settlemier and teammate Kassie Humphreys have combined for 30 wins.
Dynamic pitching duo rakes in praise, victories
KU pitchers rank second third in Big 12
BY MARK DENT
mdent@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Why wasn't Serena Settlemier on the mound?
The senior pitcher held No. 2 Texas to one hit in five innings of work, but it was Kassie Humphreys trotting out to the hill. Was Tracy Bunge out of her mind for taking out someone who had pitched so well?
Nope. The Longhorn hitters, who, after struggling with Settlemier, wilted against the equally potent Humphreys as Kansas upset Texas on April 23.
"The nice thing is Serena and Kassie complement each other so well," Kansas coach Bunge said. "Kassie is definitely a power pitcher coming at you hard, trying to bear the ball down in on your hands. Serena's going to locate it, mix her speeds a little bit and be more finesse."
Together, Settlemier and Humphreys have compiled 30 wins and rank second and third, respectively, in the Big 12 Conference in ERA.
The 'Horns were just another team to fall victim to the dynamic duo of Settlemier and Humphreys this season.
"I trust Kassie." Settlemier said of the junior pitcher after the Texas game. "We work really well together."
out 217 batters, the third most in the Big 12, has been playing the best softball of her life during the past two months. She solidified her 1.31 ERA by allowing more than one run only five times in her last 18 games. In that same time frame, she threw five shutouts and one no-hitter. Also, Humphreys trails only Texas' Cat Osterman in opponents' batting average, allowing hitters to bat only .155 against her
"H um- phreys is trem- mendous." Texas coach Connie Clark said. "She has great spin and is not one-dimensional. She made all her throws count."
Kelso, Wa., pitcher is in her fifth year at Kansas. Though Settlemier has been a productive pitcher throughout her career, she has turned it up a notch for her final season. Settlemier has career bests with 16 wins, a 1.21 ERA, and 12 complete games. She also has won some of Kansas' most important games such as Texas and Missouri.
Although Humphreys
Settlemier also knows a thing or two about experience. The
Like Humphreys, Settlemier has experienced some struggles
"She's matured a lot, which comes from learning from failures. There's no substitute for experience.She's really finding herself as a pitcher."
is garnering praise from Kansas teammates and opposing teams, that was not the case last season. In 2005, Humphreys took a step back after a promising freshman season, recording only five wins and allowing nearly five runs per game. Humphreys turned last year's disappointing season around and now sits near the top of the Big 12 in every pitching category.
"She's matured a lot, which comes from learning from failures," Bunge said. "There's no substitute for experience. She's really finding herself as a pitcher."
Tracy Bunge Kansas coach
of her own. She missed her entire sophomore season because of injury and wasn't the same when she returned the next year. Settlemier posted an ERA of more than six and was able to pitch in only eight games.
The next season her numbers improved, and this season, she has been at her best.
"Serena's the best teammate these girls could ask for," Bunge said. "She's made a major contribution this year."
With the season winding down and the match-up against Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament on the horizon, there are almost no guarantees to what will happen to the Jayhawks, except one.
"We are going to get good pitching," Bunge said. "We've had success with what we did on the mound against them."
Edited by Kathryn Anderson
Emmi Adler
Kelly Beattie
Ashley Burkemper
Amber Burkemper
Elaina Cascone
Ashley Dokken
Elena Ferrantelle
Lauren Fulmer
Jaclyn Grimes
Audrey Haney
Katie Huff
Thanks for everything you've given us. Good luck and we'll miss you.
Taylor Jewett Allie Lepp Kelsey Mitchell Erin Morgan Cristen Osborn Storey Pryor Laura Rotschafer Sarah Schmidt Emily Stelzer Cara Walstrom Ellen Wegner