UMass vs. Kansas | Citrus Blossom Invitational

Kansas softball (1-5) netted its first win of the season, splitting its two games on day one of the Diamond 9 Citrus Blossom Invitational.
 
The victory marked many firsts for the 2019 squad. It marked head coach Jennifer McFalls first victory and the first win of 2019, while also registering as Kirsten Pruett'sfirst career win and Miranda Rodriguez's first hit of the season.
 
Kansas 4, UMASS 2
Kansas opened their first game of competition against a foe that had yet to play in 2019.
 
UMASS (0-1) opened their season at the Diamond 9 Citrus Blossom and opened the scoring in the fourth inning off starting Kansas pitcher Brynn Minor. Minor pitched a scoreless three innings to start the game and the Jayhawks were also not able to plate a run in the same frames.
 
In the fourth, UMASS netted one run, but again both teams were held scoreless in the fifth, which proved to be the last full inning for Minor in the circle. After another run crossed the plate for the Minutewoman, Kansas broke its scoring streak.  
 
Shelby Gayre opened the inning with a single up the middle and scored on a double by Rodriguez, her first hit of the season. Shelby Hughston added a double in the next at-bat and plated two more runs, giving the Jayhawks the lead.
 
Hughston netted an insurance run after Madison Sykes slapped a single up the middle, earning the 4-2 result.
 
Kirsten Pruett came in relief for Minor, pitching the final two innings and securing her first career win.