Softball Beats No. 25 North Carolina, Buffalo to Start the Season

Junior Ashley Spencer recorded the win from the pitcher's circle.

Feb. 11, 2011

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -

Eight different Jayhawks recorded at least one hit, including a grand slam from sophomore Maggie Hull, as the Kansas softball team cruised to a 13-3, five-inning victory versus Buffalo Friday afternoon in the team's second-straight win in the Jacksonville University Tournament.

KU upset No. 25 North Carolina 5-4 earlier in the day in its season opener.

Kansas out-hit Buffalo 10-5 as Hull and freshman Ashley Newman led the Jayhawks with two hits a piece. Hull also batted in four RBIs, while juniors Liz Kocon and Marissa Ingle also had multiple RBIs batting in two runs apiece.

It didn't take long for the Kansas offense to find its stride as the Jayhawks jumped out to a commanding 7-0 lead after the first inning of play. Before the first out, Kocon batted in two runs and Maggie Hull cleared the bases with a grand slam over the left field wall.

Before the inning was over, Newman scored KU's seventh run after a wild pitch slipped back to the backstop.

In the top of the second inning, sophomore Mariah Montgomery reached first on a fielder's choice and eventually scored when, with the bases loaded from walks, freshman Colleen Hohman was hit by a pitch.

Buffalo benefitted from a pair of hits and four walks in the bottom of the second to score its first two runs of the game.

The Jayhawks showed no signs of slowing however, adding four more runs on three hits in the third frame. Montgomery's fielder's choice helped plate sophomore Rosie Hull before Ingle's two-RBI single through the right side increased KU's lead to 11-2. Newman added one more tally with her single to the left side.

The Bulls eventually chased junior Ashley Spencer from the circle in the bottom of the third after loading the bases, which they converted into another run following their third single of the frame to make the score 12-3.

Kansas earned its win via run-rule following its at-bat in the top of the fifth. Senior Brittany Hile hit a bases loaded sacrifice fly to plate Maggie Hull and give KU a 10-run lead.

The Jayhawks used a trio of pitchers in the win. Sophomore Alex Jones started the contest before Spencer entered in the second inning and freshman Kristin Martinez threw the final two and a third innings to record the win.

Kansas is back in action Saturday afternoon when it takes on Bethune-Cookman at 1:30 p.m. and Jacksonville at 5:30 p.m.