Jayhawks drop midweek matchup, 7-1
Box Score Final Box (.PDF)
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Kansas’ offense was silenced for much of the ballgame as SIU-Edwardsville walked away with a 7-1 victory over the Jayhawks on Wednesday afternoon at Cougar Field.
SIUE’s ace senior Haley Chambers-Book was two outs away from a perfect game before outfielder Erin McGinley spoiled it with a double to centerfield. The junior’s extra-base hit was the first of two Jayhawk (18-12) hits on the day. Senior infielder Taylor Dodson recorded the second hit and drove in KU’s lone run of the ballgame with two outs. While Kansas’ offense struggled to gain momentum, the Cougars recorded 10 hits in the fifth meeting between the two programs.
“We had some really good at bats before that last inning and Erin’s was one of those ones that did,” said head coach Megan Smith. “She came through and we kept fighting to come through with a hit, but, honestly, we have to talk about how great the other team was. You have to give credit where credit is due. SIUE is a great team, well coached and their pitcher is phenomenal. She brought her a game today and we were lucky to scratch a run off of her because she’s a talented pitcher.”
SIUE (22-5) took a one-run lead in the opening frame after junior designated player Tess Eby hit a double to centerfield, which allowed the runner on second base to score. Eby’s RBI double gave the Cougars a 1-0 advantage after one inning. After giving up a run in the first frame, sophomore Alexis Reid settled into a rhythm in the second and ended the frame with back-to-back strikeouts and needed just 10 pitches to get her offense back in the batter’s box.
Freshman infielder Zoe Schafer drove in another SIUE run in the third with a single to right field. Schafer’s first RBI of the ballgame increased the Cougars lead, 2-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, freshman outfielder Reagan Curtis drove in another SIUE run with a double down the left field line. After the third run crossed home plate, Kansas went to its bullpen and brought in senior hurler Sophia Templin. Reid’s day ended after giving up two earned runs and five hits in three and third innings. Templin retired the fourth frame without further harm.
Freshman infielder Kalei Kaneshiro tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning with a two-run homer over the fence in left field. Kaneshiro’s third long ball of 2017 gave the Cougars a 5-0 lead after five innings. The Cougars extended its lead with their second two-run home run in the sixth inning and took a 7-0 advantage into the final inning.
SIUE’s starter in the circle Chambers-Book sat the first 19 Jayhawk batters down in order. The senior headed into the final inning with a perfect game on the line. After recording the first out of the seventh, McGinley ended Chambers-Book’s perfect game with her double to the outfield. Chambers-Book struck out seven and surrendered one earned run en route to her 11th victory in the circle.
McGinley broke up the perfect game with a double to centerfield in the seventh frame, giving Kansas its first base runner of the day. Senior infielder Taylor Dodson drove in KU’s lone run with an infield single to shortstop. Although Kansas’ offense began picking up steam late in the game, SIUE halted any moment to complete the midweek victory, 7-1.
Up Next
Kansas begins Big 12 Conference play with a three-game series against No. 14 Baylor on Friday, March 24 at 5 p.m., at Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park. All three games will air on the Jayhawk Radio Network, while the first two games of the series will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Television Network.
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.
