Kansas City
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Kansas
'Roos Swept In Doubleheader In Lawrence
3/30/2010 10:15:00 PM | Softball
Lawrence, Kan. - The UMKC softball team (8-22, 3-6) dropped a pair of close games to Kansas at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence, Kan on Tuesday evening. In the first game of the doubleheader, the 'Roos fell, 5-1, while dropping a 1-0 contest in the second game, despite strong efforts from starting pitchers Anna Sokolik and Deanna Friese.
In game one, Sokolik held the Jayhawks scoreless through the first two innings, but surrendered a grand slam to catcher Brittany Hile in the third to give KU the 4-0 lead.
The 'Roos would chip away at the Jayhawk lead in their next at-bat with three straight two-out singles by Megan Vicino, Taylor Hill and Danielle Bennefeld, cutting the lead to 4-1.
That would be the last run UMKC would score, however, as Kansas held the 'Roos scoreless over the final three innings, after tacking on a run in the bottom of the fourth, for the win.
Middle infielders Kelly Fischer and Hill recorded two hits apiece for the squad, while Bennefeld knocked in the lone run, scoring Vicino.
On the mound, Sokolik (4-6) took the loss, as the sophomore tossed a complete game, allowing five runs on nine hits, while striking out two.
In the second game of the day, the 'Roos fell, 1-0, despite out-hitting Kansas, 5-3 in the contest. Friese (4-10) led the squad in game two, throwing a complete game three-hitter with a career-high 12 strikeouts, allowing only one unearned run.
Friese started the game off slowly, allowing the first two KU batters to reach via a walk and a single before settling down and striking out the 3-5 hitters in the lineup to get out of the first inning unscathed.
The two teams would then combine for only four baserunners in their next seven at-bats, before Kansas finally put an unearned run on the scoreboard in the fifth when Alicia Irwin scored on Alex Jones' single after a UMKC throwing error.
The 'Roos would attempt to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh when Bennefeld singled and Lauren Rodrigues walked with one out, putting runners on first and second. The next batter, sophomore Chelsea Hartwig, then flied out to right, advancing pinch runner Rashonda Stanley to third. With two outs and runners on the corners though, Sokolik also flied out to right to end the game.
For the 'Roos, five players notched hits to lead the effort offensively, including Fischer, Janessa Swinney, Bennefeld, Rodrigues and Sokolik.
UMKC will be back in action this weekend when it resumes Summit League play against South Dakota State in a three-game series starting on Friday.
