Softball Plays Host to Kansas in Midweek Doubleheader
4/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 20, 2009
TULSA, Okla. - The University of Tulsa softball team plays host to Kansas Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. at the Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex.
Tulsa is currently 28-14 overall and 10-4 in C-USA play, after sweeping a doubleheader at Indiana on Saturday, 3-0 and 7-5. Live stats via Gametracker, and live video via All-Access will be available at www.TulsaHurricane.com. The game can be heard on 88.7 FM HD3 Hurricane Spirit Radio.
The Hurricane enters the week with a team .290 batting average, with 194 runs scored, 325 hits, 179 RBI and 30 home runs. The team also carries a .367 on-base percentage and a .431 slugging percentage. The pitching staff has put together a 2.63 ERA with nine shutouts and has given up 221 hits, 123 runs - 103 earned - 110 walks and 261 strikeouts in 274.1 innings.
Kansas (16-25, 4-8 Big 12) is hitting .234 as a team, with 151 runs scored, 237 hits, 133 RBI and 20 home runs. The Jayhawks carry a .315 team one-base percentage and a .354 team slugging percentage. The pitching staff has a 3.06 ERA with three shutouts and has allowed 287 hits, 159 runs - 119 earned - 95 walks and 246 strikeouts in 272.1 innings.
Individually, Tulsa is led by junior right fielder Lauren Lindsay with a .378 batting average (51-for-135) with 26 RBI, 32 runs scored, eight home runs, 12 doubles, a .644 slugging percentage and a .468 on-base percentage. Senior left fielder Brooke Smart hits .375 (42-for-112) with 22 RBI, 24 runs scored, six doubles and three homers. Junior first baseman Vanessa Vice has a .318 batting average (41-for-129) with 17 RBI, 14 runs scored, six doubles and one triple.
In the circle, Junior Jackie Lawrence is 12-4 with a 1.55 ERA and four shutouts, allowing 73 hits and 37 runs - 25 earned - with 46 walks and 111 strikeouts in 113.1 innings with a .180 opp. batting avg. Sophomore Jordan Kinard is 10-5 with a 3.07 ERA with two shutouts, and has allowed 68 hits, 44 runs - 41 earned - walked 47 and struck out 103 in 93.1 innings. Senior Katie Lee is 6-5 with a 3.81 ERA in 14 appearances with 12 starts. She has allowed 80 hits, 42 runs - 37 earned - with 17 walks and 47 strikeouts in 68.0 innings.
Kansas is led in hitting by third baseman Val Chapple, who has a .319 batting average (36-for-113) with 20 RBI, 20 runs scored, eight doubles, two triples, two homers, a .478 slugging percentage and a .391 on-base percentage. Utility athlete Allie Clark hits .253 (23-for-91) with 12 runs scored, five homers, and is tied for the team lead with eight doubles and 22 RBI. The Jayhawk pitching staff is led by Val George, who sports a 9-12 record in 25 appearances with 21 starts, and has a 2.70 ERA, allowing 130 hits, 67 runs, 52 of which are earned, 41 walks and has struck out 141 in 135.0 innings. Sarah Vertelka has a 6-8 record in 26 appearances and 17 starts, with a 3.10 ERA, allowing 89 hits, 47 runs, 39 of which are earned, 36 walks and 66 strikeouts in 88.0 innings.
Tulsa and Kansas have played 11 times; Kansas leads, 7-4. The teams last met in 2007, a two-game split in Tulsa's tournament. Kansas won the first game, 9-0 and Tulsa won the second, 1-0. The two teams played single games in 2005 and 2006, with the Golden Hurricane winning 3-2 in 2005 and KU taking the game in 2006, 1-0. The Hurricane and Jayhawks split n 2001, TU won 4-3 and KU won 8-3, while Kansas won three of four meetings in 1994 and again in 1995. Tulsa is 1-2 against the Jayhawks in Tulsa, 1-3 in Lawrence, and tied 2-2 in neutral sites.
Tickets for Tulsa softball games are $6 for adults and $4 for youth high school aged and younger. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Tulsa Athletics Ticket Office in person, by calling (918) 631-GoTU or on the web by visiting www.TulsaHurricane.com.
