Kansas City
Western Illinois
'Roos Drop First Two Games Against Western Illinois
3/26/2010 7:46:00 PM | Softball
Macomb, Ill. -- The UMKC softball team (8-19) dropped a pair of contest to Western Illinois (16-7) on Friday at the Mary Ellen McKee Stadium. In game one, the 'Roos lost a hard fought game, 3-2, while falling in the second game, 11-3 in five innings. Emily Ott keyed the squad on the day, finishing with two hits and two RBIs.
In the first game of the day, the 'Roos got on the board first to take the early 1-0 lead. Kaelene Curry led the inning off with a single, then stole second with Kelly Fischer at the plate. Fischer's sacrifice bunt moved Curry to third, and the shortstop then scored on Emily Ott's RBI double.
The Leathernecks immediately answered in the bottom of the first with a single run off UMKC starter Anna Sokolik to tie the game in the bottom of the second, while adding another run in the third in to go up 2-1 in the game.
The 'Roos, though, would not to quietly as the squad tied the game in the top of the seventh inning, after managing only two base runners the previous five innings. Amanada Kinn got the team going in the inning, reaching on a walk, while a pinch-running Rhiannon Mendez stole second to put herself in scoring position. Megan Vicino then smashed an RBI double to center to tie the game at 2-2.
The tie would be short lived, however, as WIU notched a two-out single off Sokolik to give the Leathernecks the 3-2 win in game one of the series.
On the mound for the 'Roos, Sokolik tossed a complete game, allowing three runs while striking out four. At the plate Curry, Ott, Vicino, Lauren Rodrigues and Sokolik all tallied hits.
In the second game of the day, the Leathernecks jumped on UMKC early to put the game quickly out of reach.
WIU put two runs on the scoreboard in the first inning on Jamie Goss' two-run home run off UMKC starter Deanna Friese.
Western Illinois then put the game away with a nine-run second, chasing UMKC relievers Ott and Taya Upkes from the game. Starter Deanna Friese re-entered the game and got the 'Roos out of the inning, trailing 11-0.
The two teams would go scoreless the next two innings before the 'Roos tried to mount a comeback with three runs in the fifth. Danielle Bennefeld led the inning off with a single and Rashonda Stanley followed by reaching on an error. After a walk to Brittany Owens loaded the bases, Taylor Hill reach on an error, scoring Bennefeld. Emily Ott then knocked in the final two UMKC runs with an RBI single, pushing the score to the 11-3 final.
On the mound, Deanna Friese tossed 2.2 innings allowing no earned runs, while striking out five, while Taylor Hill finished with an RBI and a run scored at the plate.
The two teams will wrap-up their series tomorrow for a 12 p.m. contest with live stats available at www.UMKCKangaroos.com.
