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'Roos To Host North Dakota and South Dakota In Dakota's Round Robin Tournament
4/9/2010 7:49:00 AM | Softball
THIS WEEK
The UMKC softball team (10-23, 5-7) will take a break from Summit League play this weekend when it welcomes in North Dakota (9-25, 2-4) and South Dakota (9-20-1, 3-3) for the Dakota's Round Robin Tournament at Loyola Park. The Fighting Sioux and Coyotes will open up the two-day event at noon on Saturday, with the 'Roos scheduled to face South Dakota at 2:30 p.m. and North Dakota at 5 p.m. On Sunday, the Dakota's will open the day at 11 a.m., while UMKC will take on the Fighting Sioux at 1:30 p.m. and Coyotes at 4 p.m.
DAKOTA'S ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENT
APRIL 10-11 - KANSAS CITY, MO. (LOYOLA PARK)
Opponent Preview
» UMKC vs. South Dakota » April 10-11, 2010 » 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m
South Dakota comes into the tournament with a 9-20-1 record on the season, losing only once in its last six contests, while going 1-1 against North Dakota. Mel Johnson leads the Coyotes, as the junior has posted a team-low 3.46 ERA in 99 innings with 79 strikeouts, while sitting tied for second on the team in home runs (2) and RBIs (11) and third in batting average (.272). Alaina Novotny, meanwhile, is tops on the team with a .318 batting average, while the junior is tied with Michelle Jones, Callie Roan and Johnson in home runs, one behind team leader Jasey Goedeken's three. UMKC leads the all-time series between the two schools after taking both games last season in the tournament.
» UMKC vs. North Dakota » April 10-11, 2010 » 5 p.m. and 1:30 p.m
North Dakota enters the weekend with a record of 9-25 including three consecutive wins and a 1-1 mark against South Dakota. The Fighting Sioux are led by Casie Hanson, as the freshman is tops on the team in batting average (.453), hits (43), triples (5), home runs (6), slugging (.758), on-base percentage (.544) and steals (17). Kristi Alcorn, meanwhile, leads the team with 22 RBIs, while sitting second in home runs (4), slugging (.452) and steals (9). On the mound for the Fighting Sioux, Michelle Frank has a team-low 5.89 ERA, while Emma Gronseth leads the team in innings pitched (94) and strikeouts (64). North Dakota leads the all-time series between the two school, 2-1, after taking two of three games from the 'Roos last season.
LAST WEEK
UMKC split its doubleheader with South Dakota State on Friday at Jackrabbit Softball Stadium, shutting out the Jackrabbits, 10-0, in game one before falling 11-3 in the second. Anna Sokolik finished the day 5-of-6 at the plate with six RBIs, three runs scored, two stolen bases and her Summit League leading fifth triple of the year, while picking up the win in game one with a complete game three-hit shutout. In the series finale, the 'Roos won, 7-4, in nine innings after trailing by three heading into the seventh inning. Sokolik again picked up the win on the mound for the 'Roos, tossing all nine innings, allowing four runs, while striking out four.
Earlier in the week, the team dropped a pair of close games to Kansas at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence, Kan., falling, 5-1, in game one, while dropping a 1-0 contest in the second game, despite strong efforts from starting pitchers Anna Sokolik and Deanna Friese.
LAST YEAR AT THE DAKOTA”S ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENT
UMKC went 2-0 in day one of the Dakota's Round Robin Tournament, scooping up wins against North and South Dakota, while the Fighting Sioux downed the Coyotes, 6-5, in their contest. The Kangaroos defeated the Fighting Sioux, 6-1 and then beat the Coyotes, 7-5. Nicholle Ellis and Sam Hurst each recorded wins on the mound for the Kangaroos.
On day two, the Kangaroos went 1-1 to wrap up the first annual Dakota's Round Robin Tournament. UMKC dropped game one to North Dakota, 3-2 and then rallied to beat South Dakota, 5-2, while the Coyotes defeated the Fighting Sioux, 9-5. Carli Slagle finished the day going three-for-five in both games with a home run. Taya Upkes recorded the win for the `Roos against the Coyotes, throwing a complete game and striking out six.
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..
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 hitting .500 with 10 RBIs, two doubles, a triple and seven runs scored, while Kaelene Curry is hitting .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 .300, including sophomores Kaelene Curry's .395 average, Anna Sokolik's .346 average and Kelly Fischer's .341 average and freshman Emily Ott's .322 average. Combined, the four players are hitting .351 with 120 hits, 69 runs scored, 56 RBIs, 27 stolen bases, 27 walks, 22 doubles, six triples, and a .416 OBP.
OUT-HITTING=WINNING
When the UMKC bats are going, they are tough to beat. The 'Roos have a 9-2 record when they out hit their opponents, while holding a 1-20 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 chipping in four and Kaelene Curry, Ashley Whiteside and Chelsea Hartwig 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 42 bases in 49 attempts, averaging 1.27 stolen bases per game. At that rate, the 'Roos would swipe 64 bases, 11 more than last season. Kelly Fischer and Kaelene Curry lead the team with nine stolen bases each, while Emily Ott (6-6), Ashley Whiteside (4-4), Janessa Swinney (4-4), and Rashonda Stanley (3-3) 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 (.395), OBP (.526), runs (28), walks (15), HBPs (6), steals (9) and is second on the team in hits (30). Other category leaders for the 'Roos include Betsy Hanley in slugging (.553) and home runs (2), Kelly Fischer in doubles (7), hits (35), total bases (44), steals (9) and sacrifices (8), Taylor Hill in home runs (2), Emily Ott in RBIs (23) and Anna Sokolik in triples (5).
NATIONALLY RANKED
Anna Sokolik leads a quartet of 'Roos in the NCAA's statistical rankings, as the sophomore currently sits ninth in the nation with five triples, as well as being ranked in triples per game (.15-13th), walks per seven innings (1.97-79th), ERA (3.17-195th), strikeouts per seven innings (4.6-222th), hits per seven innings (7.71-230th), shutouts (1-254th), wins (6-275th) and strikeouts (54-281st). Deanna Friese, meanwhile, is ranked in strikeouts per seven innings (8.4-54th), strikeouts (105-93rd), hits per seven innings (8.18-254th), shutouts (1-254th), walks per seven innings (4.33-287th) and ERA (5.05-287th).
At the plate for the 'Roos, Kaelene Curry is ranked in on-base percentage (.526-37th), runs per game (.97-49th), HBP per game (.21-70th), batting average (.395-108th) and walks per game (.52-161st), while Kelly Fischer is ranked in sacrifices per game (.24-34th).
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 .526, while sitting second in runs (28), third in batting average (.395) and sixth in walks (15) and stolen bases (9). Sokolik holds the league lead with five triples and is ninth in slugging at .526, while Emily Ott's 23 RBIs are sixth. Kelly Fischer, meanwhile, is sixth in hits (35) and steals (9) and 10th in batting (.347). As a team, the 'Roos are third in batting average with a .259 mark.
Freshman Deanna Friese, meanwhile, is third in the league in strikeouts (105), while sitting sixth in appearances (22), seventh in games started (15) and eighth in innings pitched (87.1) and complete games (8). Sokolik, meanwhile, is sixth in complete games (9), seventh in wins (6), eighth in ERA (3.17) and opponent batting average (.267) and10th in innings pitched (81.2).
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 (.431), trailing only Tracey Poste .448 mark, and fifth in batting average (.339), while Hanley (.332), Fischer (.325) and Emily Ott (.322) are sixth, seventh and eighth in batting average all-time. Meanwhile, Carli Slagle (9) and Chelsea Hartwig (8) rank second and third, respectively, 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), eighth in winning percentage (.280) and ninth in innings pitched (185) and walks per seven innings. Meanwhile, Deanna Friese sits atop the UMKC record books with 8.4 strikeouts per seven innings and is ninth in winning percentage (.267), while Anna Sokolik is fourth in winning percentage (.400), sixth in strikeouts per seven innings (4.15) and eighth in walks per seven innings (2.96).
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 over half the season completed, several 'Roos are again on pace to put their names in the records. Kaelene Curry's .395 batting average would place her second all-time, while also being on pace to sit in the top 10 in hits, slugging, runs, walks, 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 and slugging), Hanley (slugging) and Emily Ott (RBIs). Meanwhile, Deanna Friese's 105 strikeouts rank fifth in a single season, while her 8.4 strikeouts per seven innings pitched would be the second 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 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.
