JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Delaware State held their own against Kansas despite falling, 5-2, in the first game of a doubleheader and as was the case Wednesday against Jacksonville, the Hornet pitchers fell apart in the nightcap as the Jayhawk hitters had a field day en route to a 17-1 victory in five innings Friday at North Florida's softball complex.
Senior pitcher Casey Beighley had a rough start in the first game before eventually settling down. Kansas scored three runs on four hits and one DSU error before Beighley struck out the side to end the inning with two Jayhawks left on base.
Beighley held KU without a hit for the next three innings.
DSU fielders struggled in the bottom of the frame, putting up three errors and allowing one run to score.
Kansas freshman Alicia Pille came in as relief for the Jayhawks in the top of the seventh and earned her first save of the season as she sat the first three Hornet batters down with a fly out and two strikeouts as KU went on for the 5-2 victory.
The win was the Jayhawks' 16th straight on the season. KU sophomore Ashley Newman led the offense with three hits and two runs. Junior Maggie Hull drove in a pair of runs for the Jayhawks (16-2). Sophomore Kristin Martinez improved to 4-0 on the year as she tossed four innings, allowing one run off four hits.
Beighley (1-2) took the loss for the Hornets (3-6) in the circle and went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and run scored. Kelsey Doherty also went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI.
Kansas got on the board early and often in the second game of the day, the opening game of the UNF Osprey Invitational. The Jayhawks scored seven runs off of nine hits and one error in the first three innings against DSU sophomore Samantha Gross.
Senior Breanne Parr put Del State on the board in the second with an RBI double to left center to score sophomore Stephanie Martello.
Armed with a 7-1 lead heading into the top of the fourth, Kansas racked up 10 runs on seven hits (three home runs) and sent 16 batters to the plate against DSU sophomore Ashlyn Campbell to take a 17-1 advantage.
The Hornets were unable to respond as they didn't post another hit for the rest of the game.
The Jayhawks hit a total of five homers in the game and tied the longest win streak in school history with their 17th straight win to move to 17-2 on the season.
Junior Maggie Hull went 3-for-4 in the game with four RBI.
Pille, Kansas' game two starter, earned her eighth-straight win, but snapped a scoreless streak at 17.2 innings. The freshman has not allowed an earned run in 21.0 innings.
DSU senior Jordan Reid and Parr posted the lone hits of the game for the Hornets (3-7).
Gross (0-2) took the loss for Del State as she allowed seven runs (all earned) on nine hits and one walk in 3.0 innings. Campbell was lit up for the Hornets in the fourth, allowing 10 runs (all earned) on six hits and four walks and no strikeouts in just one-third of an inning pitched.
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