Stein sets RBI mark in Jayhawks’ 5-4 softball win

Maddie Stein became Kansas University’s all-time career RBI leader with a solo home run in the fifth inning, and KU coach Megan Smith claimed her 300th career win in a the Jayhawks’ 5-4 victory over Georgia State on Sunday at Arrocha Ballpark.

Stein’s homer proved to be the game-winner and gave her 141 career RBIs, one more than former teammate Maggie Hull-Tietz.

“It’s pretty cool,” Stein said. “You don’t come into a school saying you are going to do stuff like that. I have had a lot of people pulling for me, and it’s really great to accomplish something like that.”

Kansas junior shortstop Chaley Brickey gets an out by throwing to first during Kansas' game against Georgia State Sunday at Arrocha Ballpark,

The 22nd-ranked Jayhawks improved to 29-2 and made a 300-game winner of Smith, who is in her 10th season as a coach and sixth at KU.

“I’m more excited about Maddie’s (record) than my own,” Smith said. “But 300 wins, that’s awesome. I’ve been a part of some great programs, great players and great assistant coaches. It’s really the players that go out and play for me. It’s not about me. I’m really proud to do that here at Kansas because I’m really proud to be a Jayhawk and be here at KU.”

KU was outhit, 6-3, by Georgia State (21-7), but two of the hits were home runs: Stein’s solo shot and Chaley Brickey’s three-run bomb in the first inning.

Alicia Pille (18-0) allowed all four runs off six hits in a complete game.

Kansas will host Drake at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Georgia State 021 100 0 — 4 6 1

Kansas 301 010 x — 5 3 0

W –Alicia Pille, 18-0. L — Katie Worley, 6-3.

2B — Daniella Chavez, KU. HR — Ashley Christy, Lauren Coleman, GSU; Chaley Brickey, Maddie Stein, KU.

Kansas highlights –Pille 7 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 5 BB, 5 K; Brickey 1-for-4, 2R, 3 RBIs; Stein 1-for-2, R, RBI, 141st career RBI.