Jayhawks Sweep Final Day of Fall Tournament
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas softball remained perfect through the first five games of the 2015 fall slate after sweeping the final day of competition at the Jayhawk Fall Tournament. KU defeated Washburn, 8-0, in the first game of the day in five innings and outlasted Butler, 7-4, in the final game of the day.
KU went 4-0 over the weekend and shutout two of four opponents at the 2015 Jayhawk Fall Tournament. Sophomore Daniella Chavez launched her first grand slam of the season and recorded six RBIs on the day. Last season, Chavez was named co-Big 12 Freshman of the Year and she’s already continuing to display her power at the plate.
In game one, freshman Alexis Reid started the contest in the circle and settled into a grove after surrendering a pair of hits in the opening frame. She retired the next six batters in order with the help of a double play turned by sophomore Jessie Roane.
Senior Chaley Brickey gave Kansas a one-run lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Shortstop doubled to center field to plate the first run of the day. She finished the first game 1-for-1 with a walk and a RBI.
Chavez, who etched her name in Kansas’ record book as a freshman, picked up where she left off a season ago. The Crowley, Texas native stepped into the batter’s box in the third inning and crushed a grand slam, hitting the flag pole just beyond the fence in right field. Chavez’s first home run of the fall extended KU’s lead, 5-0.
Still with no outs in the bottom of the third, the Jayhawks tacked on three more runs as their advantage grew to 8-0 over Washburn. Freshman Ania Williams, sophomore Amanda Organ and senior Briana Evans each pushed a run across before the side was retired.
Reid moved to 2-0 in the circle after recording her second win of the fall. She struck out one in three innings pitched, while giving up two hits and no runs.
Sophomore Andie Formby entered the contest in the fourth inning and posted a strikeout in two innings of work. She limited Washburn to three hits, but combined for the shutout with Reid. It marked the third shutout of the fall season for the Jayhawks’ pitching staff, who have surrendered just one run in four games.
Kansas jumped out in front in the opening frame of the second game of the day against Butler Community College. The Jayhawks scored three runs out of the gate to take a 3-0 lead. Brickey, Chavez and Roane each plated a run that gave KU an earlier advantage over the Grizzlies.
The Jayhawks added two more runs in the third inning as their lead increased, 5-0. Chavez drove in her sixth run of the day with a single to right centerfield, while a fielder’s choice brought home the final run of the frame for KU.
Junior Sophia Templin made her second start of the fall against Butler. The De Soto, Kansas native threw four innings and struck out six Grizzlies’ batters. She held Butler scoreless for three innings before the Grizzlies’ offense struck plating four runs combined in the fourth and fifth innings. Williams entered the circle in relief and retired the side with the Jayhawks’ lead still intact.
Kansas added two runs in the bottom of the six inning after Shannon McGinley drove in a run and a passed ball scored a second. The Jayhawk defense recorded another double play in the seventh and a groundout to Brickey ended the game and gave Kansas the win, 7-4.
Kansas continues its fall slate on Thursday, Oct. 8 against Cowley County Community College. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m., at Rock Chalk Park.
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