'Roos To Take On UNLV Before Hosting Centenary
4/19/2010 5:33:00 PM | Softball
THIS WEEK
The UMKC softball team (16-24, 7-8) will take on a pair of opponents this week when it battles UNLV (26-15) in Las Vegas before welcoming in Summit League foe Centenary (9-26, 3-12) for a three game series in Kansas City. The 'Roos will battle the Rebels on Tuesday night at 6 p.m., while the series with the Ladies will get underway with a doubleheader on Friday at 3 p.m at Avila (120th & Wornall), before concluding on Saturday at noon.
Opponent Preview
» UMKC at UNLV » April 20, 2010 » 6 p.m
UNLV enters the match-up with a 26-15 overall record and a 3-1 mark in Mountain West play, while winning six of its last seven contests. Tara Bendt leads the Rebels at the plate, as the senior is hitting .433 on the season, while fellow senior, Marissa Nichols is also topping the .400 mark with a .407 average, along with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs. Jaci Hull and Ashli Holland, meanwhile, each have a team-high 30 RBIs, with seven and five home runs, respectively. On the mound, UNLV has three pitchers who have logged between 77-84 innings, with Jessica Conner posting a team-low 2.69 ERA and a team-high 69 strikeouts. This will be the first meeting all-time between the two schools.
» UMKC vs. Centenary » April 23-24, 2010 » 3 p.m, 5 p.m and 12 p.m.
Centenary enters the week with a 9-26 record overall and a 3-12 mark in Summit League play, including victories over Southern Utah and Oakland. Sara Dornelas tops the team in hitting, as the junior has posted a .281 average, while Katie Matthews leads the team with four home runs and 14 RBIs. Kalyn Harris, meanwhile, has belted three home runs and a team-high 20 RBIs. On the mound, Dornelas leads the Centenary staff with a 4.18 ERA in 129 innings, while striking out 79. Centenary leads the all-time series between the two schools, 18-4, including a 2-1 series win a year ago.
LAST WEEK
The 'Roos extended is longest win streak since winning 10 in a row in 2002 to seven games with a pair of wins over Summit League foe Southern Utah on April 16. In game one, the 'Roos downed the Thunderbirds in a come-from-behind 5-4 win, as Taylor Hill led the UMKC offensive attack finishing 4-for-4 with two doubles.
In game two, the squad picked up an 8-1 win with Anna Sokolik (8-6) notching the win on the mound for the 'Roos, after allowing one run in a complete game effort, while Danielle Bennefeld finished with two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.
In the series finale, Southern Utah won 12-10, despite nine hits, eight RBIs and five runs from Kaelene Curry, Kelly Fischer, Sokolik and Emily Ott, the top four hitters in the line-up.
4-FOR-4
Taylor Hill's four hits in the first game of the series against Southern Utah were the most hits in one game by a 'Roo this season. On the season, Hill has four multi-hit games, while hitting .271 in her first season in the Blue and Gold. Previously, seven different 'Roos had games of three hits, led by Betsy Hanley and Anna Sokolik, as the sophomore duo each had three, three-hit games, while Kelly Fischer has 12 multi-hit games this season.
HEATING UP
After starting the season off slowly, the 'Roos are playing their best ball of the season right now, as the squad has won seven of its last eight contests. During the stretch, the squad has beaten Summit League opponents South Dakota State and Southern Utah, as well as North Dakota and South Dakota, out-scoring the four teams 52-32 over the eight games.
HOME COOKIN'
The 'Roos have been a much better team this season at home than they have been on the road, as the team has posted a 9-3 record in Kansas City, while going 7-21 in road and neutral site games. In home games this season, the team is out-scoring its opponents 67-54, out-hitting them .314-.259 and out-pitching them by posting a 3.90 ERA compared to a 5.65 ERA by the visiting teams. Away from Kansas City, the 'Roos are getting out-scored 180-107, out-hit .315-.260 and out-pitched 2.56-5.28
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 10-game hitting streak, while batting a team-high .514 with 18 hits, 12 RBIs and a 1.135 OPS over that stretch. The hit streak is the longest on the team this season, one more than 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 8-4 record for a .667 winning percentage.
MASHING IT IN LEAGUE PLAY
Through its first 15 league games of the season, the UMKC lineup has been crushing the ball. Combined, the team is hitting .327 with eight home runs and 77 RBIs with a .847 OPS. Anna Sokolik has led the way for the squad, as the outfielder/pitcher is fourth in The Summit League with a .450 batting average, along with 13 RBIs, two doubles, a triple, a home run and eight runs scored, while Kaelene Curry is 10th in the league in hitting at .410 with 15 runs and a team-high .531 on-base percentage. Emily Ott and Kelly Fischer, meanwhile, have added team highs of 15 RBIs and 15 runs scored, respectively.
GAME 1 OF A DOUBLEHEADER
In its seven doubleheaders this season against Wichita State, IPFW, IUPUI, Western Illinois, Kansas, South Dakota State and Southern Utah, UMKC has posted a 7-7 overall record and a .500 winning percentage. In game one of the doubleheaders though, the squad's winning percentage jumps to .714 as the 'Roos have beaten Wichita State (4-0), IPFW (11-9), IUPUI (8-2), SDSU (11-0) and Southern Utah (5-4) in the first games of the doubleheaders. Overall, the squad is out-scoring its opponents, 37-19, in the first game of a doubleheader, while being out-scored, 42-23, 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 .345, including sophomores Kaelene Curry's .381 average, Anna Sokolik's .353 average and Kelly Fischer's .352 average and freshman Emily Ott's .348 average. Combined, the four players are hitting .358 with 156 hits, 91 runs scored, 81 RBIs, 36 stolen bases, 38 walks, 28 doubles, six triples, and a .427 OBP.
OUT-HITTING=WINNING
When the UMKC bats are going, they are tough to beat. The 'Roos have a 12-3 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, in the 1-0 loss to Kansas when the 'Roos out-hit the Big 12 foe, 5-3, and in the series finale against Southern Utah.
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 three sacrifice fly's this season. As a team, the 'Roos have 37 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 55 bases in 63 attempts, averaging 1.38 stolen bases per game. At that rate, the 'Roos would swipe 69 bases, 16 more than last season. Kelly Fischer and Kaelene Curry lead the team with 13 and 14 stolen bases, respectively, while Emily Ott (6-6), Rashonda Stanley (7-7), 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 (.381), OBP (.524), runs (38), walks (21), HBPs (8), stolen bases (14) and is second on the team in hits (33). Other category leaders for the 'Roos include Betsy Hanley and home runs (2), Kelly Fischer in doubles (8), hits (44) and sacrifices (8), Taylor Hill in home runs (2), Emily Ott in RBIs (31) and Anna Sokolik in triples (5), total bases (55), and slugging.
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 .524 and runs scored with 38, while sitting, third in batting average (.381) and walks (21) and fifth in stolen bases (14). Sokolik holds the league lead with five triples and is ninth in batting (.353) slugging (.539), while Emily Ott ranks third in RBIs (31) and seventh in on-base percentage (.411). Kelly Fischer, meanwhile, is sixth in steals (13) and hits (44). As a team, the 'Roos are second in batting average with a .276 mark.
Freshman Deanna Friese, meanwhile, is second in the league in strikeouts (162), while sitting fourth in shutouts (2), fifth in wins (8), sixth in complete games (11) and games started (19), seventh in appearances (27), and eighth in innings (115.2) and opponent batting average (.270). Sokolik, meanwhile, is fifth in wins (8), eighth in complete games (10), ninth in ERA (3.28) and 10th in starts (16), 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 (.439), trailing only Tracey Poste's .448 mark, sixth in batting average (.339), seventh in runs (59) and tied for ninth in walks (34) and stolen bases (22), while freshman Emily Ott is third in batting average (.348) and fifth in on-base percentage (.411). Meanwhile, Anna Sokolik (.336), Fischer (.329) and Hanley (.324) are seventh, eighth and ninth in batting average all-time, Carli Slagle (9) and Chelsea Hartwig (9) are tied for second on the UMKC career home run list. 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 9.8 strikeouts per seven innings and is fourth in winning percentage (.421) and fifth in strikeouts (162), while Anna Sokolik is third in winning percentage (.435), seventh in walks per seven innings (2.73) and eighth in strikeouts per seven innings (3.96) .
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 80% the season completed, several 'Roos are again on pace to put their names in the records. Kaelene Curry's 38 runs are already school record and her .381 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), and Emily Ott (RBIs). Meanwhile, Deanna Friese's 162 strikeouts rank third in a single season, while her 9.8 strikeouts per seven innings pitched would be the most in a single season.
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 38 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 31 RBIs, meanwhile, are two RBIs shy of breaking the school record.
FRIESE'S WEEKEND GEMS
Freshman Deanna Friese had her best weekend as a collegiate athlete on April 10-11 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.
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.
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).
HEAD COACH MEREDITH SMITH
Meredith Smith is in her fourth season at the helm of the UMKC softball program with a 48-135 overall record and a 24-52 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 (16-24, 7-8) will take on a pair of opponents this week when it battles UNLV (26-15) in Las Vegas before welcoming in Summit League foe Centenary (9-26, 3-12) for a three game series in Kansas City. The 'Roos will battle the Rebels on Tuesday night at 6 p.m., while the series with the Ladies will get underway with a doubleheader on Friday at 3 p.m at Avila (120th & Wornall), before concluding on Saturday at noon.
Opponent Preview
» UMKC at UNLV » April 20, 2010 » 6 p.m
UNLV enters the match-up with a 26-15 overall record and a 3-1 mark in Mountain West play, while winning six of its last seven contests. Tara Bendt leads the Rebels at the plate, as the senior is hitting .433 on the season, while fellow senior, Marissa Nichols is also topping the .400 mark with a .407 average, along with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs. Jaci Hull and Ashli Holland, meanwhile, each have a team-high 30 RBIs, with seven and five home runs, respectively. On the mound, UNLV has three pitchers who have logged between 77-84 innings, with Jessica Conner posting a team-low 2.69 ERA and a team-high 69 strikeouts. This will be the first meeting all-time between the two schools.
» UMKC vs. Centenary » April 23-24, 2010 » 3 p.m, 5 p.m and 12 p.m.
Centenary enters the week with a 9-26 record overall and a 3-12 mark in Summit League play, including victories over Southern Utah and Oakland. Sara Dornelas tops the team in hitting, as the junior has posted a .281 average, while Katie Matthews leads the team with four home runs and 14 RBIs. Kalyn Harris, meanwhile, has belted three home runs and a team-high 20 RBIs. On the mound, Dornelas leads the Centenary staff with a 4.18 ERA in 129 innings, while striking out 79. Centenary leads the all-time series between the two schools, 18-4, including a 2-1 series win a year ago.
LAST WEEK
The 'Roos extended is longest win streak since winning 10 in a row in 2002 to seven games with a pair of wins over Summit League foe Southern Utah on April 16. In game one, the 'Roos downed the Thunderbirds in a come-from-behind 5-4 win, as Taylor Hill led the UMKC offensive attack finishing 4-for-4 with two doubles.
In game two, the squad picked up an 8-1 win with Anna Sokolik (8-6) notching the win on the mound for the 'Roos, after allowing one run in a complete game effort, while Danielle Bennefeld finished with two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.
In the series finale, Southern Utah won 12-10, despite nine hits, eight RBIs and five runs from Kaelene Curry, Kelly Fischer, Sokolik and Emily Ott, the top four hitters in the line-up.
4-FOR-4
Taylor Hill's four hits in the first game of the series against Southern Utah were the most hits in one game by a 'Roo this season. On the season, Hill has four multi-hit games, while hitting .271 in her first season in the Blue and Gold. Previously, seven different 'Roos had games of three hits, led by Betsy Hanley and Anna Sokolik, as the sophomore duo each had three, three-hit games, while Kelly Fischer has 12 multi-hit games this season.
HEATING UP
After starting the season off slowly, the 'Roos are playing their best ball of the season right now, as the squad has won seven of its last eight contests. During the stretch, the squad has beaten Summit League opponents South Dakota State and Southern Utah, as well as North Dakota and South Dakota, out-scoring the four teams 52-32 over the eight games.
HOME COOKIN'
The 'Roos have been a much better team this season at home than they have been on the road, as the team has posted a 9-3 record in Kansas City, while going 7-21 in road and neutral site games. In home games this season, the team is out-scoring its opponents 67-54, out-hitting them .314-.259 and out-pitching them by posting a 3.90 ERA compared to a 5.65 ERA by the visiting teams. Away from Kansas City, the 'Roos are getting out-scored 180-107, out-hit .315-.260 and out-pitched 2.56-5.28
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 10-game hitting streak, while batting a team-high .514 with 18 hits, 12 RBIs and a 1.135 OPS over that stretch. The hit streak is the longest on the team this season, one more than 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 8-4 record for a .667 winning percentage.
MASHING IT IN LEAGUE PLAY
Through its first 15 league games of the season, the UMKC lineup has been crushing the ball. Combined, the team is hitting .327 with eight home runs and 77 RBIs with a .847 OPS. Anna Sokolik has led the way for the squad, as the outfielder/pitcher is fourth in The Summit League with a .450 batting average, along with 13 RBIs, two doubles, a triple, a home run and eight runs scored, while Kaelene Curry is 10th in the league in hitting at .410 with 15 runs and a team-high .531 on-base percentage. Emily Ott and Kelly Fischer, meanwhile, have added team highs of 15 RBIs and 15 runs scored, respectively.
GAME 1 OF A DOUBLEHEADER
In its seven doubleheaders this season against Wichita State, IPFW, IUPUI, Western Illinois, Kansas, South Dakota State and Southern Utah, UMKC has posted a 7-7 overall record and a .500 winning percentage. In game one of the doubleheaders though, the squad's winning percentage jumps to .714 as the 'Roos have beaten Wichita State (4-0), IPFW (11-9), IUPUI (8-2), SDSU (11-0) and Southern Utah (5-4) in the first games of the doubleheaders. Overall, the squad is out-scoring its opponents, 37-19, in the first game of a doubleheader, while being out-scored, 42-23, 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 .345, including sophomores Kaelene Curry's .381 average, Anna Sokolik's .353 average and Kelly Fischer's .352 average and freshman Emily Ott's .348 average. Combined, the four players are hitting .358 with 156 hits, 91 runs scored, 81 RBIs, 36 stolen bases, 38 walks, 28 doubles, six triples, and a .427 OBP.
OUT-HITTING=WINNING
When the UMKC bats are going, they are tough to beat. The 'Roos have a 12-3 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, in the 1-0 loss to Kansas when the 'Roos out-hit the Big 12 foe, 5-3, and in the series finale against Southern Utah.
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 three sacrifice fly's this season. As a team, the 'Roos have 37 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 55 bases in 63 attempts, averaging 1.38 stolen bases per game. At that rate, the 'Roos would swipe 69 bases, 16 more than last season. Kelly Fischer and Kaelene Curry lead the team with 13 and 14 stolen bases, respectively, while Emily Ott (6-6), Rashonda Stanley (7-7), 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 (.381), OBP (.524), runs (38), walks (21), HBPs (8), stolen bases (14) and is second on the team in hits (33). Other category leaders for the 'Roos include Betsy Hanley and home runs (2), Kelly Fischer in doubles (8), hits (44) and sacrifices (8), Taylor Hill in home runs (2), Emily Ott in RBIs (31) and Anna Sokolik in triples (5), total bases (55), and slugging.
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 .524 and runs scored with 38, while sitting, third in batting average (.381) and walks (21) and fifth in stolen bases (14). Sokolik holds the league lead with five triples and is ninth in batting (.353) slugging (.539), while Emily Ott ranks third in RBIs (31) and seventh in on-base percentage (.411). Kelly Fischer, meanwhile, is sixth in steals (13) and hits (44). As a team, the 'Roos are second in batting average with a .276 mark.
Freshman Deanna Friese, meanwhile, is second in the league in strikeouts (162), while sitting fourth in shutouts (2), fifth in wins (8), sixth in complete games (11) and games started (19), seventh in appearances (27), and eighth in innings (115.2) and opponent batting average (.270). Sokolik, meanwhile, is fifth in wins (8), eighth in complete games (10), ninth in ERA (3.28) and 10th in starts (16), 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 (.439), trailing only Tracey Poste's .448 mark, sixth in batting average (.339), seventh in runs (59) and tied for ninth in walks (34) and stolen bases (22), while freshman Emily Ott is third in batting average (.348) and fifth in on-base percentage (.411). Meanwhile, Anna Sokolik (.336), Fischer (.329) and Hanley (.324) are seventh, eighth and ninth in batting average all-time, Carli Slagle (9) and Chelsea Hartwig (9) are tied for second on the UMKC career home run list. 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 9.8 strikeouts per seven innings and is fourth in winning percentage (.421) and fifth in strikeouts (162), while Anna Sokolik is third in winning percentage (.435), seventh in walks per seven innings (2.73) and eighth in strikeouts per seven innings (3.96) .
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 80% the season completed, several 'Roos are again on pace to put their names in the records. Kaelene Curry's 38 runs are already school record and her .381 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), and Emily Ott (RBIs). Meanwhile, Deanna Friese's 162 strikeouts rank third in a single season, while her 9.8 strikeouts per seven innings pitched would be the most in a single season.
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 38 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 31 RBIs, meanwhile, are two RBIs shy of breaking the school record.
FRIESE'S WEEKEND GEMS
Freshman Deanna Friese had her best weekend as a collegiate athlete on April 10-11 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.
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.
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).
HEAD COACH MEREDITH SMITH
Meredith Smith is in her fourth season at the helm of the UMKC softball program with a 48-135 overall record and a 24-52 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
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/ 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