Kansas Snaps NU's Winning Streak

Tulsa, Okla. ? A pair of Nebraska errors led to two Kansas runs which were more than enough for the Jayhawks, who snapped the 17th-ranked Husker softball team’s 10-game winning streak with a 4-0 win Saturday at the Best Western Airport Festival at Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex.

 

The loss was the first for NU (10-2) since a season-opening loss to then-No. 7 Stanford. The shutout was also a first for the Huskers and also marked the first time this season that Nebraska had not scored at least two runs in a game. NU was also held to a season-low three hits.

 

Serena Settlemier (4-3) was responsible for silencing the Husker bats, tossing the complete-game shutout and striking out five. Her effort in the circle lifted the Jayhawks (8-9) to their third consecutive victory.

 

Freshman right-hander Molly Hill (6-1) suffered the first loss of her career, despite pitching well. Hill allowed three earned runs while tossing a complete-game five-hitter and fanning eight Jayhawks.

 

In an eerily similar start to Friday’s first game, Kansas jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead without recording a hit. KU leadoff hitter Val Chapple struck out swinging, but reached first on a passed ball, which mirrored Friday’s start. Chapple then scored when Heather Stanley laid down a bunt and freshman Crystal Carwile threw wildly to first, allowing Stanley to score.

 

KU added its second run in the fifth inning with the help of another Nebraska error. Erika Simington drew a leadoff walk. After a sacrifice, pinch runner Betsy Wilson scored from second on an error by senior Jessica Yoachim.

 

The Jayhawks added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Simington led off the inning with a bloop to second base. Yoachim made what was initially ruled a diving catch, but after KU coach Tracy Bunge came out to argue, the umpires conferred and ruled Yoachim had trapped the ball. Simington later came home to score on a sacrifice fly from Destiny Frankenstein. Chapple added a second run when she came home on an two-out RBI single off the bat of Jessica Moppin.

 

NU was unable to push a run across, despite having at least one runner on base in five of the seven innings. Freshman Brittany Pascale went 2-for-3, while Yoachim went 1-for-3 to account for NU's other hit.

 

Nebraska resumes play at the Best Western Airport Festival at approximately 6 p.m. tonight against host Tulsa. Live audio and stats for that game will be available on Huskers.com.