Wesley No-Hits Tigers in Four Innings
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Senior pitcher Monique Wesley dealt her best performance of the fall slate with a no-hit effort through four innings. The Jayhawks’ 4-0 victory over Cowley County Community College was shortened to four innings due to thunderstorms that rolled into Rock Chalk Park.
Wesley worked around a leadoff walk to retire the next three batters and get out of the inning with a zero on the scoreboard. She retired 12 batters in a row, including striking out the side in the fourth inning. Wesley struck out a total of six batters in four innings pitched.Senior Monique Wesley strikes out six in no-hit
effort against Tigers.
“Monique (Wesley) was great tonight,” said head coach Megan Smith. “Monique really attacked the hitters and was getting ahead, then using some of her movement pitches. She got a couple people with her change up, that looked really good tonight. I liked her confidence tonight. She walked the first batter and after that you could tell she was determined.”
After the walk by the Tigers’ leadoff batters, Wesley retired the rest of the batters she faced in order.
Kansas’ offense gave Wesley run support early on over Cowley County after senior Chaley Brickey recorded a triple down the left field line. Her three-base knock allowed senior Shannon McGinley to score, giving the Jayhawks a 1-0 advantage in the opening frame.
“In that first inning, our seniors Shannon (McGinley) and Chaley (Brickey) came up big and sent a message to get us started,” Smith said. “All fall Shannon has been phenomenal and Chaley has always been solid for us. Shannon got it started for us and that’s been a common theme for all of our games this fall.”
In the fourth inning, sophomore Erin McGinley reached first base via error on the Cowley second baseman. The misplayed grounder allowed sophomore Mikayla Warren to come home as KU’s lead grew, 2-0.
The inning was extended after back-to-back singles from junior Taylor McElhaney and senior Briana Evans loaded the bases. With two outs and a Jayhawk on each base, Shannon McGinley singled through the right side, plating two more runs. McGinley’s single doubled Kansas’ advantage, 4-0, before the side was retired.
Wesley was unable to head back out to the circle for the fifth frame due to the lightning and rain that rolled into Rock Chalk Park, which called the game. The Jayhawks’ offense tallied seven hits and a walk.
Defensively, sophomore Jessie Roane made several key plays at third base that help keep Wesley’s no-hit performance going.
“Jessie (Roane) played great at third base and she’s been working real hard in practice,” Smith said. “I’ve been giving her a lot of feedback and asking her to make some adjustments. She’s been doing all those things. She’s looking really good.”
UP NEXT
The Jayhawks continue their 2015 Fall Ball line up on Thursday, Oct. 15 against Rockhurst. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m., at Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park.
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