March 25, 2005

Box Score

AUSTIN, Texas -

Despite a late rally, the University of Kansas softball team fell to No. 4 Texas, 4-1, in its Big 12 Conference opener Friday night at McCombs Field.  With the loss, the Jayhawks fell to 15-10 and 0-1 in league play while the Longhorns improved to 26-4 and 1-0 in the Big 12.

The Jayhawks posted their two hits of the night in the top of the seventh. As a pinch hitter, junior Heather Stanley knocked out a solo home run over the left center fence (first of the season). Junior Jessica Moppin reached first on a bunt and moved to second but could not score with two outs.

Texas took a 1-0 lead in their first at bat off three hits. With one out, Amber Hall singled and Tina Boutelle followed with a base hit to move her into scoring position. Desiree Williams knocked in Hall with a double that fell short in right field.

The Longhorns added to their lead in the bottom of the third, 2-0, scoring one run off three singles. KU shortstop Destiny Frankenstein kept UT from scoring a third time with an amazing grab and throw home to catcher Elle Pottorf for the force out.

Chez Sievers increased UT's lead to three in the bottom of the fifth with a triple that scored MicKayla Padilla, who reached on a base hit. Wynter Turner hit the second triple of the contest in the sixth to score Rachael Cook and put the Longhorns up 4-0.

Settlemier (7-5) gave up 10 hits, struck out five and walked none in 5.4 innings of work. Freshman reliever Christina Ross struck out the one batter she faced in the sixth.

UT's Cat Osterman (13-2), a gold medallist in the 2004 Summer Olympics, struck out 15 and gave up two hits in seven innings.

KU and UT will conclude the series Saturday at 1 p.m.

-KU-