THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2006
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 1B
Joshua Bickel/KANSAN
Showdown ends in grand style
SOFTBALL: 3-1
Senior pitcher Serena Settlemier connects on a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning during the Jayhawks game against the Missouri Tigers Wednesday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark. Settlemier went 1-for-3 at the plate, with one run, three hits and four RBI.The Jayhawks defeated the Tigers 5-1.
BY RVAN SCHNEIDER
rschneider@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTSWRITER
After four innings of scoreless softball, Serena Settlemier felt the pressure mounting.
"It's a lot of pressure going out on the mound every inning without having any runs to let you relax a little bit," the senior pitcher said.
Settlemier's fifth-imming grand slam off Missouri pitcher Jen Bruck vaulted Kansas to a 5-1 victory against Missouri Wednesday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark.
Talk about a stress relief
Sophomore left fielder Betsy Wilson led off the fifth inning, reaching base on an error by the Tigers' Gina Schneider. Wilson moved to second base after a sacrifice bunt by freshman third baseman Val Chapple. Junior first baseman Nicole Washburn was walked and senior second baseman Jessica Moppin reached base on a single to load the bases. Up next was Settiemier, who smashed the 1-1 pitch over the left field wall. It was her fifth grand slam of the season.
"The last five times I've faced this pitcher, she's thrown me low-and-in first pitch and change-up second." Settlemier said of Bruck. "I was sitting change-up all the way."
The Jahawks struck again in the sixth inning when senior right fielder Ashley Goodrich scored on Chapple's single to center field. Goodrich reached base on a single to lead off the inning.
The game was nearly opposite of the meeting in Columbia, Mo.
last week. Against the Tigers last Wednesday, the Jayhawks were one-hit by Bruck and lost 4-0. In the rematch, Missouri was held to one run off two hits against Settlerer.
"It was the stark opposite," Kansas coach Tracy Bunge said. "We played very well, we played with a lot of enthusiasm, played good defense and got good pitching. They were mirror images of each other."
After lighting up junior pitcher Kassie Humphreys a week ago, Missouri hitters struggled against Settlemier, who also went 3-for-3 at the plate. The Tigers managed only two hits all afternoon, a single by Andee Allen to lead off the sixth inning and a home run by Micaela Minner.
SOCCER
"Serena came out and threw a great game today." Bunge said. "She really only threw one bad pitch."
The victory improved Kansas to 24-20 on the season and 5-6 in the Big 12 Conference. Kansas will take on Creighton today in a double-header at Arrocha Ballpark. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
Notes:
With the victory, Kansas took a 19-15 lead against Missouri in the Border Showdown series standings.
The Jayhawks won their first game against the Tigers in Lawrence since April 19, 2001, exactly five years to the day.
Settlemier continued to improve upon her own school record for home runs in a season. She has a total of 18.
Edited by Meghan Miller
Anna Faltermeyer/KANSAN
Junior defender Holly Gault fights for the ball during a game against the KFCF force boys team Wednesday evening at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. Last year Gault trained with the U-21 Women's National Team and was selected as NSCA4 first team All-American and first team All-Central Renion
Weak offense spoils effort
Randall Sanders/KANSAN
Freshman first baseman Preston Land connects on his two-run home run in the first inning against Tabor at Hoglund Ballpark Wednesday night, his seventh of the season. Land contributed two hits, three RBI, and a run scored to the Jayhawks' 14-4 victory over the Blue Jaws.
BY ASHER FUSCO
afusco@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
For the second consecutive game, Julie Hanley dove, leapt and slid all over Jayhawk Soccer Complex, making save after save. Unfortunately for Kansas, the freshman goalkeeper could not make up for her team's lack of offensive punch.
The Jayhawks lost to the KCFC Under-15 boys team 3-0 Wednesday, putting the team at 1-2-2 with one game remaining on the spring schedule.
Both teams struggled to gain momentum in the first half, but Hanley made several outstanding saves to hold the score at a 0-0 tie going into halftime. Though Kansas could not find its rhythm, it rarely allowed KCFC breathing room.
From the beginning of the second half, KCFC did not let up, pressuring Kansas into turnovers and remaining on defense for the majority of the second half.
Both teams struggled to gain momentum in the first half, but Hanley made several outstanding saves to hold the score at a 0-0 tie at halftime.
SEE SOCCER ON PAGE 6B
BASEBALL: 14-4
Teamwork pays dividends
Backups see increased playing time help offense
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Ross Kelling arrived at Hoglund Ballpark early to do some extra work before Wednesday's game against Tabor. In the sixth inning, that work paid off.
The junior infielder replaced freshman first baseman Preston Land and stepped to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning for his only at bat of the day. He rocketed a two-run home run past the scoreboard in right field.
Kelleng's blast helped Kansas on its way to a 14-4 victory.
Kansas coach Ritch Price said the Jayhawks (27-15) should utilize midweek games to boost their chances of earning an NCAA tournament berth. The games also give his bench players more playing time.
"My goal is to get everybody on the roster in," Price said. "Usually the rule in baseball is when your starters get a couple of knocks, you get them out of the ballgame. So the bigger the lead is early, the better opportunity I had to play my entire roster."
Sophomores Erik Morrison and John Allman had the night off. Sophomore Matt Berner stood in for Morrison at third base and sophomore Brock Simpson took over for Allman in left field.
Simpson picked up where he left off the night before, doubling to left field in the Jayhawks' first at bat of the game. Simpson was a double short of hitting for the
cycle on Tuesday night against Missouri State.
All seven of the Jayhawks' runs in the first two innings were charged to Villalovos. Freshman lefty Nick Czyz (2-1) got the win for Kansas in five innings of work. Czyz allowed two runs, neither of which were earned, off four hits.
The pitching change in the top of the second inning set the precedent for the rest of the evening. When Tabor starter Nick Villalovos (0-1) left the game in the top of the second, he left the bases loaded without no outs.
"Two years ago, we would've been susceptible to giving up early leads like that," Price said. Not on Wednesday.
Kansas attacked early. The three hits Villalovos gave up in the first inning were Simpson's double and a pair of home runs
My goal is to get everybody on the roster in. Usually the rule in baseball is when your starters get a couple of knocks, you get them out of the ballgame"
Ritch Price Kansas baseball coach
by Land and senior infielder Jared Schweitzer. Land's home run tied him for the most home runs by a KU freshman.
Villalovos gave up four walks in his one inning on the mound. The Tabor (14-21) staff went on to total seven walks.
SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 5B
The first inning was a perfect example of the contributions Kansas has been getting from all of its players, as senior infielder Jared Schweitzer hit a solo home run to left field. Two batters later, freshman first baseman Preston Land launched a two-run home run of his own over the left field fence.
Youth and experience contribute to victories
"I think it's a tribute to our young freshman who are making progress." Price said.
At the plate, the team combined for 14 runs on 14 hits. Seniors Ritchie Price and Milner led the way, going 3-for-5 and 2-for-4, respectively. Land was the best young Jayhawk at the plate, going 2-for-2, including his home run, with one run and three RBI. His replacement, junior Ross Kelling, went 1-for-1 with a two-run home run of his own.
Throughout the stretch of victories against non conference opponents, veterans and newcomers alike have picked up their play to lead Kansas to victory. That didn't change on Wednesday against Tabor.
"Those are the words you wait to hear all day," Kelling said, about Price giving him the opportunity to enter the game. "You get out to an early lead and then you just hope that he calls you off the bench and you get to go do your thing."
BY SHAW SHROYER
sshroyer@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
SEE YOUTH ON PAGE 5B
1
》