Kansas softball shuts out ULM

? Senior left fielder Maggie Hull tagged her 20th career home run, and Alicia Pille threw a complete-game, two-hit shutout as Kansas University softball blanked Louisiana-Monroe, 6-0, to win the FAU Invitational on Sunday.

KU improved to 19-5 and won its second tournament title of the season.

Sophomore third baseman Chanin Naudin and freshman shortstop Chaley Brickey each drove in two runs against ULM (10-14).

“It was a great weekend,” KU coach Megan Smith said. “We were consistent, and we attacked every game. For this tournament, I thought it was one of the best fields overall in terms of the teams we played. Every team was tough, and I’m very proud of the girls. They were determined to come out 5-0, and we came out 5-0.”

Pille was perfect through four games before issuing a leadoff walk in the fifth, then surrendering a single to lose the no-hit bid. The only other hit she allowed was a triple, and she walked just two and struck out 10.

“Pille looked really good today,” Smith said. “She came out last night and didn’t look good, but came back this morning very mentally tough and had good command of her pitches. She attacked their hitters and got a little confidence when our offense got rolling. She did a really good job.”

Kansas will play in its final pre-conference tournament this weekend at the Capital Classic in Sacramento, Calif.

Kansas 020 300 1 — 6 9 0

Louisiana-Monroe 000 000 0 — 0 2 1

W — Alicia Pille, 7-3. L –Stephanie Routzon, 6-5.

2B — Chaley Brickey, KU. 3B — Haley McCall, ULM. HR — Maggie Hull, KU.

KU highlights — Pille 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 10 K; Hull 2-for-4, R, RBI; Chanin Naudin 2-for-3, R, 2 RBIs; Alex Hugo 1-for-3, 2 R; Brickey 1-for-3, 2 RBIs.