Montgomery Lifts KU Softball to 2-1 Win at North Florida
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sophomore Mariah Montgomery went 2-for-3 and drove in both of the Jayhawks’ runs as the University of Kansas softball team held on to top North Florida 2-1 Sunday in the final game of the Tournament. KU went a perfect 4-0 on the weekend as it improved to 21-3 overall.
Kansas received another stellar outing from the bullpen as freshman starter Kristin Martinez pitched the first four and one third innings and improved to 10-1 from the circle. She surrendered just one unearned run on five hits and allowed no walks. Senior Allie Clark came in to toss the final two and two thirds innings in scoreless relief while limiting the Ospreys (11-10) to one hit as she picked up her first save of the year. Clark struck out three of the 10 batters she faced.
Montgomery plated both of KU’s runs during the opening frame when her single through the left side between the second and first basemen gave sophomores Alex Jones and Rosie Hull time to score. Jones also collected a hit to start the inning to extend a six-game hitting streak.
KU, which matched with six total hits, scattered just three more knocks throughout the remainder of the game and stranded eight people on base over the next six innings, including three in the top of the second and sophomore Rosie Hull on third in the seventh inning.
The Ospreys struggled to put runners in scoring position but were finally able to capitalize on an opportunity in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and runners on second and third, engineered a run when KU shortstop Ashley Newman bobbled a grounder at shortstop and the batter beat the throw to first as the runner on third crossed home plate. Clark helped end the inning with a ground out to leave runners on the corners.
Kansas will have one last tune-up before the start of Big 12 Conference play as it participates in the Coastal Carolina Chanticleer Challenge next weekend, March 18-20, in Conway, S.C.
Updated 03-14-2011
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