Jayhawks cruise to 5-0 victory

? Kansas University’s softball team concluded play in the Hilton Classic with a 5-0 rout of Utah Valley State on Sunday to finish 3-1 in the tournament.

Kansas (4-5) scored the only runs it would need in the first inning. With the bases loaded, junior Jessica Moppin doubled to right-center to score juniors Destiny Frankenstein and Heather Stanley, who both reached on a fielder’s choice.

The Jayhawks increased their lead to five in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs off three hits. Moppin led off the inning with a single, and with one out, freshman Elle Pottorf hit her first career home run.

Junior Ashley Frazer reached on an error and advanced to second, and freshman Jackie Vasquez singled up the middle to bring her home and give KU the 5-0 lead.

Freshman Christina Ross (2-1) struck out two, walked three and allowed just three hits in seven innings for her second win of the tournament. On the season, she leads KU with a 0.98 earned-run average.

Moppin led the Jayhawk offense with three hits in three at-bats. KU totaled eight hits, but left seven on base and was errorless in the win.

“I was really pleased with our overall team performance this weekend,” KU coach Tracy Bunge said. “We swung the bats well and have been consistent, which I am most excited about. We now have a break to look forward to, which comes at a good time. This will give us time to regroup and get over the flu bug. We also now have a good idea of where we are and what we need to work on.”

Moppin and Frankenstein were named to the all-tournament team.

The Jayhawks are off until Feb. 25-27, when they compete at the prestigious Palm Springs Classic in Palm Springs, Calif.