THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2006
PAGE 10A
SOFTBALL
Softball earns weekend split
Freshman third baseman Val Chapple, left, Junior pitcher Kassie Humphreys, center, and Senior pitcher Serena Settlemier, right, celebrate after their victory against Texas Sunday afternoon at Arrocha Ball Park. KU defeated Texas 1-0.
BY RVAN SCHNEIDER
rschneider@kansan.com
kANSAN SENIOR SPORTSWRIVER
Kansas finally ended its curse of the seventh inning.
After losing numerous games in the seventh inning, including Saturday's game on a solo home run, Kansas ended its curse, defeating No. 2 Texas 1-0 Sunday at Arrocha Ballpark.
Baltimore
"This definitely gives us confidence knowing we can go seven," said senior pitcher Serena Settlemier.
Kansas (27-21, 6-7) nearly extended its curse in the seventh inning, allowing Texas (45-5, 11-2) to load the bases.
Texas shortstop Desiree Williams led off the inning with a single right to right field and advanced to second base on a fielder's choice. Kansas junior pitcher Kassie Humphreys walked Texas catcher Megan Willis and hit pinch hitter MicKayla Padilla to load the bases. Designated Texas hitter Rachael Cook struck out to end the game, preserving the Kansas one-run victory.
"My hands were definitely shaking," Humphreys said of pitching to Cook. "My teammates did a great job of being really supportive."
Humphreys replaced Settlemier, Sunday's starter, in the sixth inning, Settlemier, who was credited with the victory, allowed one hit and struck
out four in five innings on the mound. Humphreys pitched two innings, allowed one hit, struck out four and recorded her third save of the season.
Kansas coach Tracy Bunge said she decided to replace Settlemier after the fifth inning because of Humphreys' recent success in late-game situations.
"The bottom line is, at crunch time with the bases loaded, Kassie has been really great," Bunge said. "She just came after those kids, got the job done and threw the ball exactly where she wanted to."
Both pitchers benefited from strong infield defense. In the bottom of the fourth inning, senior second baseman Jessica Moppin made a leaping catch to prevent the ball from soaring into right field. An inning later, senior shortstop Destiny Frankenstein made a turn-around grab and throw to first to record the out.
"We were great on defense," Bunge said. "Frankenstein made a couple of great plays. Moppin made a great play. It was a really good team effort."
Kansas scored its lone run in the bottom of the first inning. With the bases loaded, freshman center fielder Stevie Crisosto was hit by a pitch, scoring Moppin, who was on third base.
SEE SOFTBALL ON PAGE 8A
BASEBALL
Randall Sandera/KANSAN
Sophomore third baseman Erik Morrison connects on his RBI double in the third inning against Kansas State in Manhattan on Saturday. Despite leading the Jayhawk offense with three hits and three RBI en route to a 5-2 victory over the Wildcats on Saturday, Morrison went 1-for-5 on Sunday, including making the final out with the tying run on second, and committed two errors.
Team takes 2 of 3 from Kansas State
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer.kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Tyler Link caught the Jayhawks' hope of a series sweep when he dove into the KSU letters mowed into the outfield grass and caught the ball in the top of the ninth inning.
Morrison stepped up to bat, while senior centerfielder Matt Baty waited on second after doubling to left earlier in the inning. He took off as Morrison connected. Link then intercepted Morrison's line drive. If the line drive had dropped, the game would
"I thought we were going to extra innings for sure," Morrison, sophomore third baseman, said. "I can't really fault myself. I've got to give that guy credit for the effort, it was a great play. They battled the whole game and got the 'W.'"
Although they lost on Sunday, the Jayhawks had already clinched the series with a pair of victories on Friday and Saturday.
Justin Gatlin, left, crosses the finish line during the men's invitational 4x100-meter relay Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Gatlin's team, Sprint Capital, finished first with a time of 38.16 seconds, shattering the meet record of 38.45 seconds set in 2000 by Maurice Greene's team, HSI. Greene and HSI finished this year's race in second with a time of 39.02 seconds.
have gone to the bottom of the ninth inning. As a result, Kansas lost to Kansas State on Sunday, 5-4, in Manhattan.
SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 7A
KANSAS RELAYS
Records set at weekend relays
Large crowd attends Goldzone
BY EVAN KAFARAKIS
ekafarakis@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Although the Kansas Relays all-time attendance mark was not broken this year, those who came out were given a great show, including a record-breaking race at the main event.
"We knew the goal was a bit too ambitious." Kansas Relays director Tim Weaver said about his hopes for breaking the all-time attendance mark at the Kansas Relays. "But we knew that."
"This just proves that 2005 was not a fluke." Weaver said. "To have a 25,000 average over two years is a good sign."
The all-time mark was set in 1972 when track legend Jim Ryun ran the mile. An estimated 50,000 plus attended the Relays that year.
This year's attendance hit 26,211,passing last year's second all-time attendance mark of 24,619.
Throughout the day the races and events were full of excitement.
The men's 100-meter dash was such a close race, no one had known who had won until it was announced a few races later.
Weaver said it was disappointing not to break the record, but it gave them more of a reason to hit the mark next year.
Josh Norman won the event
with a time of 10.27.
Mardy Scales placed second with a time of 10.28 and Rodney Martin came in third with a time of 10.29.
Although the races were entertaining, the main event is what many fans were waiting for.
With the men's main event of 4 x 100 relays set for the gun to go off at 5 p.m., the fans and runners were waiting for the officials to set things straight.
"They couldn't find out who was in lane three, seven and eight, so everybody switched around. I think it took three
"They were playing duck, duck, goose with the lanes," Sprint Capitol member and Olympic gold medallist Justin Gatlin said after the race.
The cause for the switching of lanes was Weaver radioing into the officials that he wanted Gatlin and home crowd favorite Maurice Greene to be next to each other in lanes 8 and 6 because they were the main attractions.
As the gun went off and the teams crossed the finish line, it was Sprint Capitol, with Gatlin, Dwight Thomas, Rodney Martin and Shawn Crawford, that won the event in 38.16 seconds, breaking Greene's Kansas Relays 4 x 100 meter time of 38.45 seconds.
times to get it right. The audience was patient. We were patient. I think we put on a good show," Gatlin said.
Greene's team, which never practiced handoffs — a move
"This was my first race of the year and my goal is just to stay healthy,"
Greene said. "It was for the fans, and I think they enjoyed it."
Gatlin echoed Greene's thoughts about the success of the meet.
"The Relays had a great atmosphere," Gatlin said. "My goals are to break the world record in the 100 meters and if I don't do it this year, hopefully I can do it next year at the Kansas Relays."
that proved costly — placed second as Greene brought the team back from fourth to second in his 100-meter run alone.
- Edited by Hayley Travis
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