Tracy Bunge summed it up in two words.

“Pretty pathetic,” the Kansas University softball coach said Tuesday after the Jayhawks split a doubleheader with Southwest Missouri State at Arrocha Ballpark.

Bunge wasn’t chipper after the Jayhawks stranded 15 baserunners and scored just one run in the twinbill.

Fortunately for KU, that one run was enough for a 1-0 victory in the opener as senior right-hander Kara Pierce tossed a three-hitter, fanning nine and walking none.

In the nightcap, however, the Jayhawks slapped eight hits yet failed to score, bowing 3-0 to the Bears.

“I have to give Southwest Missouri a lot of credit,” Bunge said. “They played solid and got timely hitting, but I expect more out of our club offensively.”

Kansas had only four hits in the first game, but drew five walks and stranded eight runners. In the second game, Kansas stranded seven more. It would have been more, but two Jayhawks were thrown out on the bases — one by SMS left fielder Katie Martin, a freshman from Baldwin who nailed KU’s Jessica Moppin at home with a perfect throw in the first inning.

KU had SMS pitcher Lindsey Major on the ropes a couple of times. In the fourth, the Jayhawks had the bases loaded with just one out, but Ashley Frazer and pinch-hitter Sandy Smith fanned to end the inning.

“Every strikeout we had was us chasing the ball out of the zone,” Bunge said. “I’m very frustrated because we saw extremely hittable pitching.”

Kansas University baserunner Kathy McVey, center, avoids the tag of Southwest Missouri State's Jessica Leathers, left. The Jayhawks split a twinbill with the Bears Tuesday at Arrocha Ballpark.

KU didn’t have an extra-base hit all day. SMS had just two and they came in the fourth inning of the second game. Deanna Keim doubled and scored on a single by Ashley Meredith who came around when Major slammed an opposite-field home run off KU pitcher Kassie Humphreys.

“Kassie wasn’t sharp. She was having trouble adjusting to the umpire’s strike zone,” Bunge said. “But we’ve got to score runs against the kind of pitching we saw. To say I’m disappointed is an understatement.”

Destiny Frankenstein had three of the Jayhawks’ 12 hits and scored KU’s only run in the bottom of the sixth after she moved up on a passed ball and crossed home plate on Nicole Washburn’s single.

6Sports video: Softball team hosts Southwest Missouri State

Kansas (13-6) will travel to Carbondale, Ill., this weekend for four games in a Southern Illinois-hosted tournament. The Jayhawks’ next home games are Tuesday against UMKC.

Kansas University infielder Destiny Frankenstein snags a pop fly against Southwest Missouri State. The Jayhawks split a doubleheader with the Bears on Tuesday at Arrocha Ballpark.