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'Roos Head To Southern Utah For Summit League Series
4/15/2010 2:37:00 PM | Softball
THIS WEEK
The UMKC softball team (14-23, 5-7) will resume Summit League play this week when it heads to Cedar City, Utah, to take on Southern Utah (8-30, 4-11) in a three-games series. The series will get underway with a doubleheader on Friday at 2 p.m. with the second game to follow. The two squads will close-out the series with game three scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.
Opponent Preview
» UMKC at Southern Utah » April 16-17, 2010 » 2:p.m., 4 p.m and 1 p.m.
Southern Utah comes into the contest with an 8-30 record overall and a 4-11 mark in league play including wins over Centenary and Oakland. The Thunderbirds are led at the plate by Norian James and Brittany Henderson, as the duo are hitting .354 and .330, respectively. Aly Daniels, meanwhile has belted a team-high seven home runs and 30 RBIs, while James has added 26 stolen bases. On the mound for SUU, Bubba Kearns leads the team with five wins, while no Thunderbird pitcher has an ERA under 7.40. Southern Utah leads the all-time series between the two schools 31-19, including a 2-1 series win last season.
LAST WEEK
The 'Roos picked up a pair of wins on the opening day of the Dakota's Round Robin Tournament, downing South Dakota, 7-5 before beating North Dakota in the second game, 3-2. Deanna Friese led the squad, as the freshman hurler registered a career-high 16 strikeouts against the Fighting Sioux.
On day two of the tournament, Friese notched a pair of wins, downing North Dakota, 10-4, in the first game and South Dakota, 2-0, in game two for the squad's fourth and fifth consecutive wins. On the day, the freshman tossed 11.1 innings, allowing only three hits and no runs, while striking 23, including a one-hit, 16-strikeout performance against the Coyotes.
FRIESE'S WEEKEND GEMS
Freshman Deanna Friese had her best weekend as a collegiate athlete last week during the Dakota's Round Robin Tournament, when the Kennesaw, Ga., native posted a 3-0 record and a .76 ERA in 18.1 innings, while striking out 39 batters. Friese's best game of the weekend came in the 2-0 win over South Dakota when the right-hander took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before surrendering her only hit of the game with one-out, while matching her career-high of 16 strikeouts.
BREAKING THE RECORD
Sophomore Kaelene Curry recently broke the UMKC single season record for most runs scored when she crossed the plate for the 33rd time this season against North Dakota on April, 11. On the season, the Downers Grove, Ill., native has scored 35 runs at a rate of 1.06 runs per game, surpassing the previous record of 32 runs set by Cindy Thompson in 1988. Teammate Emily Ott's 28 RBIs, meanwhile, are five RBIs shy of breaking the school record.
STREAKING THROUGH THE DAKOTA'S
After starting the season off slowly, the 'Roos are playing their best ball of the season right now, as the squad is currently riding a season-high five game winning streak heading into the weekend series with Southern Utah. During the streak, the squad has beaten Summit League opponent South Dakota State, as well as North Dakota and South Dakota, out-scoring the three teams 29-15 over the five games.
OTT'S HIT STREAK
No hitter is hotter on the UMKC roster right now than freshman Emily Ott. Currently, the Des Plaines, Ill., native is riding a seven game hitting streak, while batting a team-high .522 with 12 hits, nine RBIs and a .577 on-base percentage over that stretch. The hit streak is the second longest on the team this season, trailing only the nine game hit streak by Kelly Fischer earlier in the season.
MONTH-TO-MONTH IMPROVEMENT
Since the season began in February, the 'Roos have steadily improved in each of the past three months. In February, the squad started out the season going 2-10 in the season's opening month for a .167 winning percentage, while finishing March with a 6-10 record for a .375 winning percentage. Now, the 'Roos have started out April with a 6-3 record for a .667 winning percentage.
MASHING IT IN LEAGUE PLAY
Through its first 12 league games of the season, the UMKC lineup has been crushing the ball. Combined, the team is hitting .318 with six home runs and 58 RBIs with a .823 OPS. Anna Sokolik has led the way for the squad, as the outfielder/pitcher is tops in The Summit League with a .500 batting average, along with 10 RBIs, two doubles, a triple and seven runs scored, while Kaelene Curry is seventh in the league in hitting at .444 with 12 runs and a team-high .559 on-base percentage. Emily Ott and Kelly Fischer, meanwhile, have added team highs of 12 RBIs and 12 runs scored, respectively.
GAME 1 OF A DOUBLEHEADER
In its six doubleheaders this season against Wichita State, IPFW, IUPUI, Western Illinois, Kansas and South Dakota State, UMKC has posted a 5-7 overall record and a .417 winning percentage. In game one of the doubleheaders though, the squad's winning percentage jumps to .666 as the 'Roos have beaten Wichita State (4-0), IPFW (11-9), IUPUI (8-2) and SDSU (11-0) in the first games of the doubleheaders. Overall, the squad is out-scoring its opponents, 32-15, in the first game of a doubleheader, while being out-scored, 41-15, in game two.
COMING OUT SWINGING
The top four hitters in the UMKC line-up currently features the four hitters on the squad with a batting average above .330, including sophomores Kaelene Curry's .388 average, Anna Sokolik's .359 average and Kelly Fischer's .345 average and freshman Emily Ott's .330 average. Combined, the four players are hitting .354 with 138 hits, 82 runs scored, 70 RBIs, 32 stolen bases, 35 walks, 27 doubles, six triples, and a .422 OBP.
OUT-HITTING=WINNING
When the UMKC bats are going, they are tough to beat. The 'Roos have a 11-2 record when they out hit their opponents, while holding a 2-20 mark when they are out hit. The squad's two losses came in the first game of the season when they out hit SEMO, 10-7 and in the 1-0 loss to Kansas when the 'Roos out-hit the Big 12 foe, 5-3.
GIVING HERSELF UP
Sophomore Kelly Fischer is doing whatever it takes to help the team win, as the Glendale, Ariz., native has a team-high eight sacrifice bunts and one of the team's two sacrifice fly's this season. As a team, the 'Roos have 30 sacrifices, with Lindsey Davis and Chelsea Hartwig chipping in four and Kaelene Curry, Ashley Whiteside and Megan Vicino adding three each.
ON THE BASE PATHS
The 'Roos are tearing up the base baths this season, as the squad is on pace to post the most stolen bases in a single season in at least the last seven years. Currently, the squad has stolen 50 bases in 58 attempts, averaging 1.35 stolen bases per game. At that rate, the 'Roos would swipe 68 bases, 15 more than last season. Kelly Fischer and Kaelene Curry lead the team with 12 and 11 stolen bases, respectively, while Emily Ott (6-6), Rashonda Stanley (6-6), Ashley Whiteside (4-4) and Janessa Swinney (4-4) are all perfect in their steal attempts this season.
LEADING THE 'ROOS
Kaelene Curry is having a monster sophomore campaign, as the Downer's Grove, Ill., native currently leads the 'Roos in batting average (.388), OBP (.532), runs (35), walks (20), HBPs (6), and is second on the team in hits (33) and stolen bases (11). Other category leaders for the 'Roos include Betsy Hanley in slugging (.553) and home runs (2), Kelly Fischer in doubles (8), hits (39), total bases (49), steals (12) and sacrifices (8), Taylor Hill in home runs (2), Emily Ott in RBIs (28) and Anna Sokolik in triples (5) and total bases (49).
NATIONALLY RANKED
Anna Sokolik leads a quartet of 'Roos in the NCAA's statistical rankings, as the sophomore currently sits 10th in the nation with five triples, as well as being ranked in triples per game (.14-16th), walks per seven innings (1.86-72th), ERA (3.41-225th), strikeouts per seven innings (4.6-233th), batting average (.359-257th), hits per seven innings (8.37-267th), wins (7-268th) and strikeouts (59-299th). Deanna Friese, meanwhile, is ranked in strikeouts per seven innings (9.5-28th), strikeouts (144-60th), hits per seven innings (7.15-211th), shutouts (1-208th), wins (7-268th), walks per seven innings (3.64-272nd) and ERA (4.30-281st).
At the plate for the 'Roos, Kaelene Curry is ranked in runs per game (1.06-26th), on-base percentage (.532-32nd), batting average (.388-118th) and walks per game (.61-80th).
SUMMIT LEAGUE LEADERS
Several 'Roos sat on top of The Summit League statistical standings, led by Kaelene Curry and Anna Sokolik. Curry leads the league's in OBP at .532 and runs scored with 35, while sitting, third in batting average (.395) and walks (20) and sixth in stolen bases (11). Sokolik holds the league lead with five triples, is eighth in batting (.359), and 10th in slugging at .533, while Emily Ott ranks third in RBIs (28) and ninth in on-base percentage (.396). Kelly Fischer, meanwhile, is fifth in steals (12), sixth in hits (39), and seventh in doubles (8). As a team, the 'Roos are fourth in batting average with a .267 mark.
Freshman Deanna Friese, meanwhile, is second in the league in strikeouts (144), while sitting fourth in shutouts (2), sixth in wins (7) and complete games (10), seventh in innings (105.2), appearances (25) and games started (17) and eighth in opponent batting average (.260). Sokolik, meanwhile, is sixth in wins (7), eighth in complete games (9), ninth in ERA (3.41) and starts (15) and 10th in opponent batting average, while Emily Ott's one save is tied with seven others for the league lead.
CAREER RECORD BOOKS
Several 'Roos have put themselves solidly in the UMKC career record books, led by sophomore infielders Kaelene Curry, Betsy Hanley and Kelly Fischer. Curry is currently second all-time at UMKC in on-base percentage (.438), trailing only Tracey Poste's .448 mark, fifth in batting average (.339) and tied for 10th in walks, while freshman Emily Ott is tied for fifth with a .396 on-base percentage. Meanwhile, Hanley (.332), Fischer (.325) and Ott (.330) are sixth, seventh and eighth in batting average all-time. Meanwhile, Carli Slagle (9) and Chelsea Hartwig (9) are tied for second on the UMKC career home run list, while Anna Sokolik ranks seventh in triples (5).
On the mound, Taya Upkes sits sixth in strikeouts per seven innings (4.62) and games pitched (67), seventh in ERA (4.12) and strikeouts (122) and ninth in winning percentage (.280), innings pitched (185) and walks per seven innings (3.33). Meanwhile, Deanna Friese sits atop the UMKC record books with 9.5 strikeouts per seven innings and is fifth in winning percentage (.267) and sixth in strikeouts (144), while Anna Sokolik is third in winning percentage (.429), seventh in strikeouts per seven innings (4.15) and eighth in walks per seven innings (2.83).
SINGLE SEASON RECORD BOOKS
Last season several 'Roos found their way into the UMKC single season record books, including Betsy Hanley in batting average (9th-.342) and hits (t6th-55), Kelly Fischer in hits (4th-57), at-bats (3rd-182) and runs (3rd-28), Chelsea Hartwig in home runs (1st-8), slugging (8th-.486) and RBIs (6th-25) and Carli Slagle in home runs (t5h-4) and RBIs (t8th-23).
This season, with over half the season completed, several 'Roos are again on pace to put their names in the records. Kaelene Curry's 35 runs are already school record and her .388 batting average would place her second all-time, while the sophomore is also being on pace to sit in the top 10 in walks and stolen bases and on-base percentage. Fischer, meanwhile, would crack the top 10 in hits, batting average, runs and stolen bases. Other 'Roos that are on pace to rank in the top 10 all-time in a single season include Anna Sokolik (triples, slugging and winning percentage), Hanley (slugging) and Emily Ott (RBIs). Meanwhile, Deanna Friese's 144 strikeouts rank third in a single season, while her 9.5 strikeouts per seven innings pitched would be the most in a single season.
POWER SURGE
The Summit League opening series with IPFW on March 12-13 featured a total of 10 home runs between the two teams, including seven in the second game of Friday's doubleheader. For the 'Roos, Betsy Hanley, Emily Ott, Taylor Hill and Amanda Kinn all went yard, while IPFW's Kristina Karpun hit four home runs in the series.
RICE INDUCTED INTO UMKC HALL OF FAME
Three-time First Team all-Mid-Con selection (1999-01) Amanda Rice was inducted into the UMKC Hall of Fame on Jan. 22. Rice, who was a Mid-Con all-Tournament team honoree in 1999, is the UMKC career record holder in hits (201), doubles (47) runs batted in (97) and home runs (14). She also finished her career ranked second in putouts (219), fourth in games played (218), sixth in batting average (.309) and fifth in walks (40).
SOKOLIK NAMED SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
UMKC's Anna Sokolik was named The Summit League Player of the Week on April 5. The sophomore earned her second career honor after finishing the week hitting .529 with seven RBIs, four runs, two doubles, two triples and two stolen bases in two games against Kansas and three against South Dakota State. Sokolik also posted a 2-1 record on the mound with a 3.15 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched.
The Bettendorf, Iowa, native began the week with a pair of hits in the doubleheader with the Jayhawks before tallying a career-high five RBIs, two runs, a double, a triple and a stolen base in the series opener with SDSU, while also picking up the win in a three-hit shutout. In game two of the series, Sokolik went 2-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI, reaching base in all three of her plate appearances. In the final game of the series, the sophomore went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while picking up her second win of the week in a career-high nine-inning effort..
SOKOLIK NAMED SUMMIT LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE WEEK
UMKC's Anna Sokolik was named The Summit League Pitcher of the Week on March 8 after posting a 1-1 record with a 1.38 ERA and 10 strikeouts in the Missouri Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament. The Bettendorf, Iowa, native began the tournament by picking up her first win of the season over Southeast Missouri State on Friday, tossing a complete game, allowing one earned run and eight hits, while striking out four. Against Missouri State, Sokolik threw all six innings, giving up one earned run on eight hits with a career-high six strikeouts.
SOKOLIK, FRIESE NAMED TO ULM MARDI GRAS CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Sophomore Anna Sokolik and freshman Deanna Friese were named to the ULM Mardi Gras all-Tournament team. Sokolik finished the tournament with an .833 batting average, as the sophomore collected five hits, including two triples, scored two runs, drove in one run and slugged 1.667 in three games. On the mound, the Bettendorf, Iowa, native pitched two hitless innings. Friese, meanwhile, finished the tournament with a 1-1 record and a 3.46 ERA in 13 innings of work, while striking out 17 in two complete game efforts.
THE LONE SENIOR
Carli Slagle returns to the 'Roos for her fourth season in the Blue and Gold, making her the only senior on this year's team. Slagle, who is second all-time in UMKC history with nine career home runs, will be counted on to by Head Coach Meredith Smith to provide leadership to a team that features five freshmen, 10 sophomores and six juniors. Last season, the outfielder finished with a .267 batting average, while finishing second on the team with 23 RBI's and third in home runs with four. This season, Slagle has mashed one of the team's eight home runs.
'ROOS PICKED FIFTH IN PRESEASON POLL
The UMKC softball team was picked to finish fifth in The Summit League Preseason Poll in a vote of the league's nine head coaches. The 'Roos received 30 points in the polls, trailing fourth place Oakland by only four points. Western Illinois was picked as the preseason favorite, finishing with 5 first place votes for a total of 61 points.
RETURNEES GALORE
UMKC returns eight starters, including a pair of Second Team all-Summit League honorees in Kelly Fischer and Chelsea Hartwig, from a squad that finished 20-34 and 10-14 in The Summit League last season.
HEAD COACH MEREDITH SMITH
Meredith Smith is entering her fourth season at the helm of the UMKC softball program with a 40-131 overall record and a 20-50 mark in Summit League play through her first three years. After inheriting a program that had finished with a winning season once in the previous 18 years of existence, Coach Smith has at least doubled her win total in each of her three seasons. Last season, Smith led the squad to 20 wins, the most since the 2002 season.
LAST SEASON
The UMKC softball team finished the 2009 campaign with a 20-34 overall record, while going 10-14 in Summit League play to finish sixth. The 20 wins mark only the fourth time in school history that the team has reached the total. The squad was led on the year by Second Team all-Summit League selections Kelly Fischer and Chelsea Hartwig. Fischer finished with a .313 average, while notching a team-high 28 runs and 57 hits. Hartwig, meanwhile, recorded team-highs of eight home runs, 25 RBIs, 15 walks and a .486 slugging percentage in 2009. The eight home runs for Hartwig were a UMKC single season record.
The UMKC softball team (14-23, 5-7) will resume Summit League play this week when it heads to Cedar City, Utah, to take on Southern Utah (8-30, 4-11) in a three-games series. The series will get underway with a doubleheader on Friday at 2 p.m. with the second game to follow. The two squads will close-out the series with game three scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.
Opponent Preview
» UMKC at Southern Utah » April 16-17, 2010 » 2:p.m., 4 p.m and 1 p.m.
Southern Utah comes into the contest with an 8-30 record overall and a 4-11 mark in league play including wins over Centenary and Oakland. The Thunderbirds are led at the plate by Norian James and Brittany Henderson, as the duo are hitting .354 and .330, respectively. Aly Daniels, meanwhile has belted a team-high seven home runs and 30 RBIs, while James has added 26 stolen bases. On the mound for SUU, Bubba Kearns leads the team with five wins, while no Thunderbird pitcher has an ERA under 7.40. Southern Utah leads the all-time series between the two schools 31-19, including a 2-1 series win last season.
LAST WEEK
The 'Roos picked up a pair of wins on the opening day of the Dakota's Round Robin Tournament, downing South Dakota, 7-5 before beating North Dakota in the second game, 3-2. Deanna Friese led the squad, as the freshman hurler registered a career-high 16 strikeouts against the Fighting Sioux.
On day two of the tournament, Friese notched a pair of wins, downing North Dakota, 10-4, in the first game and South Dakota, 2-0, in game two for the squad's fourth and fifth consecutive wins. On the day, the freshman tossed 11.1 innings, allowing only three hits and no runs, while striking 23, including a one-hit, 16-strikeout performance against the Coyotes.
FRIESE'S WEEKEND GEMS
Freshman Deanna Friese had her best weekend as a collegiate athlete last week during the Dakota's Round Robin Tournament, when the Kennesaw, Ga., native posted a 3-0 record and a .76 ERA in 18.1 innings, while striking out 39 batters. Friese's best game of the weekend came in the 2-0 win over South Dakota when the right-hander took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before surrendering her only hit of the game with one-out, while matching her career-high of 16 strikeouts.
BREAKING THE RECORD
Sophomore Kaelene Curry recently broke the UMKC single season record for most runs scored when she crossed the plate for the 33rd time this season against North Dakota on April, 11. On the season, the Downers Grove, Ill., native has scored 35 runs at a rate of 1.06 runs per game, surpassing the previous record of 32 runs set by Cindy Thompson in 1988. Teammate Emily Ott's 28 RBIs, meanwhile, are five RBIs shy of breaking the school record.
STREAKING THROUGH THE DAKOTA'S
After starting the season off slowly, the 'Roos are playing their best ball of the season right now, as the squad is currently riding a season-high five game winning streak heading into the weekend series with Southern Utah. During the streak, the squad has beaten Summit League opponent South Dakota State, as well as North Dakota and South Dakota, out-scoring the three teams 29-15 over the five games.
OTT'S HIT STREAK
No hitter is hotter on the UMKC roster right now than freshman Emily Ott. Currently, the Des Plaines, Ill., native is riding a seven game hitting streak, while batting a team-high .522 with 12 hits, nine RBIs and a .577 on-base percentage over that stretch. The hit streak is the second longest on the team this season, trailing only the nine game hit streak by Kelly Fischer earlier in the season.
MONTH-TO-MONTH IMPROVEMENT
Since the season began in February, the 'Roos have steadily improved in each of the past three months. In February, the squad started out the season going 2-10 in the season's opening month for a .167 winning percentage, while finishing March with a 6-10 record for a .375 winning percentage. Now, the 'Roos have started out April with a 6-3 record for a .667 winning percentage.
MASHING IT IN LEAGUE PLAY
Through its first 12 league games of the season, the UMKC lineup has been crushing the ball. Combined, the team is hitting .318 with six home runs and 58 RBIs with a .823 OPS. Anna Sokolik has led the way for the squad, as the outfielder/pitcher is tops in The Summit League with a .500 batting average, along with 10 RBIs, two doubles, a triple and seven runs scored, while Kaelene Curry is seventh in the league in hitting at .444 with 12 runs and a team-high .559 on-base percentage. Emily Ott and Kelly Fischer, meanwhile, have added team highs of 12 RBIs and 12 runs scored, respectively.
GAME 1 OF A DOUBLEHEADER
In its six doubleheaders this season against Wichita State, IPFW, IUPUI, Western Illinois, Kansas and South Dakota State, UMKC has posted a 5-7 overall record and a .417 winning percentage. In game one of the doubleheaders though, the squad's winning percentage jumps to .666 as the 'Roos have beaten Wichita State (4-0), IPFW (11-9), IUPUI (8-2) and SDSU (11-0) in the first games of the doubleheaders. Overall, the squad is out-scoring its opponents, 32-15, in the first game of a doubleheader, while being out-scored, 41-15, in game two.
COMING OUT SWINGING
The top four hitters in the UMKC line-up currently features the four hitters on the squad with a batting average above .330, including sophomores Kaelene Curry's .388 average, Anna Sokolik's .359 average and Kelly Fischer's .345 average and freshman Emily Ott's .330 average. Combined, the four players are hitting .354 with 138 hits, 82 runs scored, 70 RBIs, 32 stolen bases, 35 walks, 27 doubles, six triples, and a .422 OBP.
OUT-HITTING=WINNING
When the UMKC bats are going, they are tough to beat. The 'Roos have a 11-2 record when they out hit their opponents, while holding a 2-20 mark when they are out hit. The squad's two losses came in the first game of the season when they out hit SEMO, 10-7 and in the 1-0 loss to Kansas when the 'Roos out-hit the Big 12 foe, 5-3.
GIVING HERSELF UP
Sophomore Kelly Fischer is doing whatever it takes to help the team win, as the Glendale, Ariz., native has a team-high eight sacrifice bunts and one of the team's two sacrifice fly's this season. As a team, the 'Roos have 30 sacrifices, with Lindsey Davis and Chelsea Hartwig chipping in four and Kaelene Curry, Ashley Whiteside and Megan Vicino adding three each.
ON THE BASE PATHS
The 'Roos are tearing up the base baths this season, as the squad is on pace to post the most stolen bases in a single season in at least the last seven years. Currently, the squad has stolen 50 bases in 58 attempts, averaging 1.35 stolen bases per game. At that rate, the 'Roos would swipe 68 bases, 15 more than last season. Kelly Fischer and Kaelene Curry lead the team with 12 and 11 stolen bases, respectively, while Emily Ott (6-6), Rashonda Stanley (6-6), Ashley Whiteside (4-4) and Janessa Swinney (4-4) are all perfect in their steal attempts this season.
LEADING THE 'ROOS
Kaelene Curry is having a monster sophomore campaign, as the Downer's Grove, Ill., native currently leads the 'Roos in batting average (.388), OBP (.532), runs (35), walks (20), HBPs (6), and is second on the team in hits (33) and stolen bases (11). Other category leaders for the 'Roos include Betsy Hanley in slugging (.553) and home runs (2), Kelly Fischer in doubles (8), hits (39), total bases (49), steals (12) and sacrifices (8), Taylor Hill in home runs (2), Emily Ott in RBIs (28) and Anna Sokolik in triples (5) and total bases (49).
NATIONALLY RANKED
Anna Sokolik leads a quartet of 'Roos in the NCAA's statistical rankings, as the sophomore currently sits 10th in the nation with five triples, as well as being ranked in triples per game (.14-16th), walks per seven innings (1.86-72th), ERA (3.41-225th), strikeouts per seven innings (4.6-233th), batting average (.359-257th), hits per seven innings (8.37-267th), wins (7-268th) and strikeouts (59-299th). Deanna Friese, meanwhile, is ranked in strikeouts per seven innings (9.5-28th), strikeouts (144-60th), hits per seven innings (7.15-211th), shutouts (1-208th), wins (7-268th), walks per seven innings (3.64-272nd) and ERA (4.30-281st).
At the plate for the 'Roos, Kaelene Curry is ranked in runs per game (1.06-26th), on-base percentage (.532-32nd), batting average (.388-118th) and walks per game (.61-80th).
SUMMIT LEAGUE LEADERS
Several 'Roos sat on top of The Summit League statistical standings, led by Kaelene Curry and Anna Sokolik. Curry leads the league's in OBP at .532 and runs scored with 35, while sitting, third in batting average (.395) and walks (20) and sixth in stolen bases (11). Sokolik holds the league lead with five triples, is eighth in batting (.359), and 10th in slugging at .533, while Emily Ott ranks third in RBIs (28) and ninth in on-base percentage (.396). Kelly Fischer, meanwhile, is fifth in steals (12), sixth in hits (39), and seventh in doubles (8). As a team, the 'Roos are fourth in batting average with a .267 mark.
Freshman Deanna Friese, meanwhile, is second in the league in strikeouts (144), while sitting fourth in shutouts (2), sixth in wins (7) and complete games (10), seventh in innings (105.2), appearances (25) and games started (17) and eighth in opponent batting average (.260). Sokolik, meanwhile, is sixth in wins (7), eighth in complete games (9), ninth in ERA (3.41) and starts (15) and 10th in opponent batting average, while Emily Ott's one save is tied with seven others for the league lead.
CAREER RECORD BOOKS
Several 'Roos have put themselves solidly in the UMKC career record books, led by sophomore infielders Kaelene Curry, Betsy Hanley and Kelly Fischer. Curry is currently second all-time at UMKC in on-base percentage (.438), trailing only Tracey Poste's .448 mark, fifth in batting average (.339) and tied for 10th in walks, while freshman Emily Ott is tied for fifth with a .396 on-base percentage. Meanwhile, Hanley (.332), Fischer (.325) and Ott (.330) are sixth, seventh and eighth in batting average all-time. Meanwhile, Carli Slagle (9) and Chelsea Hartwig (9) are tied for second on the UMKC career home run list, while Anna Sokolik ranks seventh in triples (5).
On the mound, Taya Upkes sits sixth in strikeouts per seven innings (4.62) and games pitched (67), seventh in ERA (4.12) and strikeouts (122) and ninth in winning percentage (.280), innings pitched (185) and walks per seven innings (3.33). Meanwhile, Deanna Friese sits atop the UMKC record books with 9.5 strikeouts per seven innings and is fifth in winning percentage (.267) and sixth in strikeouts (144), while Anna Sokolik is third in winning percentage (.429), seventh in strikeouts per seven innings (4.15) and eighth in walks per seven innings (2.83).
SINGLE SEASON RECORD BOOKS
Last season several 'Roos found their way into the UMKC single season record books, including Betsy Hanley in batting average (9th-.342) and hits (t6th-55), Kelly Fischer in hits (4th-57), at-bats (3rd-182) and runs (3rd-28), Chelsea Hartwig in home runs (1st-8), slugging (8th-.486) and RBIs (6th-25) and Carli Slagle in home runs (t5h-4) and RBIs (t8th-23).
This season, with over half the season completed, several 'Roos are again on pace to put their names in the records. Kaelene Curry's 35 runs are already school record and her .388 batting average would place her second all-time, while the sophomore is also being on pace to sit in the top 10 in walks and stolen bases and on-base percentage. Fischer, meanwhile, would crack the top 10 in hits, batting average, runs and stolen bases. Other 'Roos that are on pace to rank in the top 10 all-time in a single season include Anna Sokolik (triples, slugging and winning percentage), Hanley (slugging) and Emily Ott (RBIs). Meanwhile, Deanna Friese's 144 strikeouts rank third in a single season, while her 9.5 strikeouts per seven innings pitched would be the most in a single season.
POWER SURGE
The Summit League opening series with IPFW on March 12-13 featured a total of 10 home runs between the two teams, including seven in the second game of Friday's doubleheader. For the 'Roos, Betsy Hanley, Emily Ott, Taylor Hill and Amanda Kinn all went yard, while IPFW's Kristina Karpun hit four home runs in the series.
RICE INDUCTED INTO UMKC HALL OF FAME
Three-time First Team all-Mid-Con selection (1999-01) Amanda Rice was inducted into the UMKC Hall of Fame on Jan. 22. Rice, who was a Mid-Con all-Tournament team honoree in 1999, is the UMKC career record holder in hits (201), doubles (47) runs batted in (97) and home runs (14). She also finished her career ranked second in putouts (219), fourth in games played (218), sixth in batting average (.309) and fifth in walks (40).
SOKOLIK NAMED SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
UMKC's Anna Sokolik was named The Summit League Player of the Week on April 5. The sophomore earned her second career honor after finishing the week hitting .529 with seven RBIs, four runs, two doubles, two triples and two stolen bases in two games against Kansas and three against South Dakota State. Sokolik also posted a 2-1 record on the mound with a 3.15 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched.
The Bettendorf, Iowa, native began the week with a pair of hits in the doubleheader with the Jayhawks before tallying a career-high five RBIs, two runs, a double, a triple and a stolen base in the series opener with SDSU, while also picking up the win in a three-hit shutout. In game two of the series, Sokolik went 2-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI, reaching base in all three of her plate appearances. In the final game of the series, the sophomore went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while picking up her second win of the week in a career-high nine-inning effort..
SOKOLIK NAMED SUMMIT LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE WEEK
UMKC's Anna Sokolik was named The Summit League Pitcher of the Week on March 8 after posting a 1-1 record with a 1.38 ERA and 10 strikeouts in the Missouri Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament. The Bettendorf, Iowa, native began the tournament by picking up her first win of the season over Southeast Missouri State on Friday, tossing a complete game, allowing one earned run and eight hits, while striking out four. Against Missouri State, Sokolik threw all six innings, giving up one earned run on eight hits with a career-high six strikeouts.
SOKOLIK, FRIESE NAMED TO ULM MARDI GRAS CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Sophomore Anna Sokolik and freshman Deanna Friese were named to the ULM Mardi Gras all-Tournament team. Sokolik finished the tournament with an .833 batting average, as the sophomore collected five hits, including two triples, scored two runs, drove in one run and slugged 1.667 in three games. On the mound, the Bettendorf, Iowa, native pitched two hitless innings. Friese, meanwhile, finished the tournament with a 1-1 record and a 3.46 ERA in 13 innings of work, while striking out 17 in two complete game efforts.
THE LONE SENIOR
Carli Slagle returns to the 'Roos for her fourth season in the Blue and Gold, making her the only senior on this year's team. Slagle, who is second all-time in UMKC history with nine career home runs, will be counted on to by Head Coach Meredith Smith to provide leadership to a team that features five freshmen, 10 sophomores and six juniors. Last season, the outfielder finished with a .267 batting average, while finishing second on the team with 23 RBI's and third in home runs with four. This season, Slagle has mashed one of the team's eight home runs.
'ROOS PICKED FIFTH IN PRESEASON POLL
The UMKC softball team was picked to finish fifth in The Summit League Preseason Poll in a vote of the league's nine head coaches. The 'Roos received 30 points in the polls, trailing fourth place Oakland by only four points. Western Illinois was picked as the preseason favorite, finishing with 5 first place votes for a total of 61 points.
RETURNEES GALORE
UMKC returns eight starters, including a pair of Second Team all-Summit League honorees in Kelly Fischer and Chelsea Hartwig, from a squad that finished 20-34 and 10-14 in The Summit League last season.
HEAD COACH MEREDITH SMITH
Meredith Smith is entering her fourth season at the helm of the UMKC softball program with a 40-131 overall record and a 20-50 mark in Summit League play through her first three years. After inheriting a program that had finished with a winning season once in the previous 18 years of existence, Coach Smith has at least doubled her win total in each of her three seasons. Last season, Smith led the squad to 20 wins, the most since the 2002 season.
LAST SEASON
The UMKC softball team finished the 2009 campaign with a 20-34 overall record, while going 10-14 in Summit League play to finish sixth. The 20 wins mark only the fourth time in school history that the team has reached the total. The squad was led on the year by Second Team all-Summit League selections Kelly Fischer and Chelsea Hartwig. Fischer finished with a .313 average, while notching a team-high 28 runs and 57 hits. Hartwig, meanwhile, recorded team-highs of eight home runs, 25 RBIs, 15 walks and a .486 slugging percentage in 2009. The eight home runs for Hartwig were a UMKC single season record.
Players Mentioned
IF
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C
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IF
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P
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IF
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IF
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IF
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OF
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P/UTIL
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OF
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CF
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P
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OF
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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