Saturday, March 1
Springfield, Mo.
1:00 p.m. CT
Kansas City
1
vs
2
Saint Louis
Hurst, Upkes Each Strike Out Six As UMKC Picks Up Split
3/1/2008 11:30:00 PM | Softball
Springfield, Mo. -- A change of venue didn't seem to affect the UMKC softball team negatively, as the Kangaroos picked up a split in Saturday's action. UMKC downed Missouri State 3-2 in eight innings to open the day before falling 2-1 to Saint Louis in the second game of the day.
The Kangaroos scored first in both contests, putting two runs on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning against Missouri State. Alicia Baker picked up an RBI on the first Kangaroo run, plating Ashley Whiteside before scoring herself on a sacrifice fly by Lauren Cross.
The Bears battled back in the bottom of the fifth, with a two-RBI double from Michelle Armentrout, but UMKC caught Armentrout as she tried to steal home to end the inning.
Neither team was able to score in the sixth or seventh, sending the game into extra frames. Megan Ussary belted a double to center to open the UMKC half of the eighth, with Julie Hartung eventually plating Ussary.
UMKC retired the Bears in order in the bottom of the eighth to preserve the victory. Samantha Hurst struck out six batters in 6.0 innings of work, with Taya Upkes picking up the win.
In the second contest, the Kangaroos again scored in the top of the third, as Amanda Kinn took advantage of a pair of errors. She reached on an error by the Billiken shortstop, advancing to third on a Whiteside single. A well-executed double steal plated Kinn, with Whiteside advancing to third on an error by the Saint Louis second baseman, but UMKC couldn't add a second run in the inning.
Saint Louis knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the third, with neither team able to threaten in either the fourth or fifth innings.
UMKC put runners in scoring position to begin the sixth, but couldn't push a run across. Saint Louis would take advantage of that in the bottom of the seventh, scoring the game-winning run with two outs.
Upkes went the distance in the second game, striking out five.
The Kangaroos (1-6) will play their home opener on Thursday against Iowa State. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. from Cleveland Park.
The Kangaroos scored first in both contests, putting two runs on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning against Missouri State. Alicia Baker picked up an RBI on the first Kangaroo run, plating Ashley Whiteside before scoring herself on a sacrifice fly by Lauren Cross.
The Bears battled back in the bottom of the fifth, with a two-RBI double from Michelle Armentrout, but UMKC caught Armentrout as she tried to steal home to end the inning.
Neither team was able to score in the sixth or seventh, sending the game into extra frames. Megan Ussary belted a double to center to open the UMKC half of the eighth, with Julie Hartung eventually plating Ussary.
UMKC retired the Bears in order in the bottom of the eighth to preserve the victory. Samantha Hurst struck out six batters in 6.0 innings of work, with Taya Upkes picking up the win.
In the second contest, the Kangaroos again scored in the top of the third, as Amanda Kinn took advantage of a pair of errors. She reached on an error by the Billiken shortstop, advancing to third on a Whiteside single. A well-executed double steal plated Kinn, with Whiteside advancing to third on an error by the Saint Louis second baseman, but UMKC couldn't add a second run in the inning.
Saint Louis knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the third, with neither team able to threaten in either the fourth or fifth innings.
UMKC put runners in scoring position to begin the sixth, but couldn't push a run across. Saint Louis would take advantage of that in the bottom of the seventh, scoring the game-winning run with two outs.
Upkes went the distance in the second game, striking out five.
The Kangaroos (1-6) will play their home opener on Thursday against Iowa State. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. from Cleveland Park.
Players Mentioned
SS/2B
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
P/2B
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
P/1B
/ Softball
3B
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballSB Highlights vs. #3 South Dakota
Wednesday, May 07
SB Highlights @ South Dakota (Game Three)
Saturday, May 03
SB Highlights @ South Dakota (Game Two)
Friday, May 02
SB Highlights @ South Dakota (Game One)
Friday, May 02