Kangaroos Fall In Both Legs Of Home Opener To Oakland

Friday, March 14

Kansas City, Mo. (Cleveland Park)

3:00 p.m. CT

Kansas City

Oakland

Kangaroos Fall In Both Legs Of Home Opener To Oakland

3/14/2008 8:45:00 PM | Softball

By: UMKC Athletics

Kansas City, Mo. -- In its conference opener, UMKC jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first game but couldn't hang on, falling in both games to Oakland. The Kangaroos dropped the first game by a 3-2 margin before falling 12-2 after six in the nightcap.

UMKC struck first, as Amanda Kinn led off the inning with a walk. Monica Canisales sacrificed Kinn to second and an Oakland error put runners on the corners for the Kangaroos, as Megan Ussary's roller to short dribbled into shallow left. On a double-steal attempt, Kinn eluded the tag at home, but UMKC couldn't add a second run.

The Kangaroos would double their lead in the bottom of the third with a Canisales single plating Carli Slagle.

Oakland was finally able to get on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth, chasing UMKC starter Samantha Hurst from the game with two home runs for three runs in the frame.

UMKc threatened in the bottom of the seventh, with runners on first and second, but the game came to an anticlimactic end as Lauren Rodrigues was called out for failing to report as a pinch hitter.

In the second game, Oakland pushed a run across in the top of the first. UMKC looked to have equalized in its half of the inning, but Alicia Baker was judged to have interfered with the Golden Grizzlies' first baseman as she attempted to throw out a charging Kinn.

Oakland added a run in the top of the second on a solo home run and broke the game open in the third with a three-run spurt. The Golden Grizzlies added two in the fourth for a 7-0 cushion.

UMKC suffered a setback in the bottom of the fifth, as Taya Upkes took a pitch off her right hand. She was able to finish out the inning, but couldn't continue in the circle.

The Golden Grizzlies were able to take advantage as Baker was forced to pitch for the Kangaroos, adding five runs in the top of the sixth.

Baker and Cross led off the inning with a single and a walk for the Kangaroos respectively, but Cross was doubled off as the Oakland first baseman made a diving stab on a Julie Hartung line shot. UMKC was able to tally two in the inning, but fell short.

The Kangaroos fall to 2-13 on the season, and will wrap up the set with Oakland on Saturday. The game is scheduled for a noon start, weather permitting.