Kansas City
North Dakota State
'Roos Take Two From Bison
3/12/2011 10:05:00 PM | Softball
Lawrence, Kan. -- The UMKC softball team (12-6, 2-0) opened up Summit League play with a pair of shut out victories over preseason favorite North Dakota State (7-15, 0-2) on Saturday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence, Kan. The 'Roos began the day with a 1-0 victory over the Bison before taking game two 4-0.
UMKC pitchers Deanna Friese (9-4) and Katie Franks (2-1) led the way for UMKC, as Friese picked up the win in game one with a complete game six-hitter, while Franks threw all seven innings in game two, allowing four hits and striking out five.
In the first game, the opposing pitchers dominated early, as neither team was able to push across a run through the first five innings.
The Kangaroos though, finally broke through in the sixth when Kelly Fischer led off the inning with a walk. Fischer then moved to second on Emily Ott's single before Megan Ussary's RBI double put UMKC on top, 1-0.
The single run would be more than enough for Friese, as the sophomore retired the Bison in order in the bottom of the seventh for the win.
In the second game, the pitchers again controlled the game early, this time forcing a scoreless contest into the fourth.
In the fourth, the 'Roos opened up with four straight singles from Kaelene Curry, Fischer, Anna Sokolik and Ott to take a 1-0 lead and load the bases. Ussary then knocked in Fischer with a sacrifice fly and Danielle Bennefeld wrapped up the scoring with a two-run double that scored Sokolik and Ott.
The runs would again hold up, as Franks allowed only three base runners over the final three innings of play.
On the day, Curry, Fischer, Sokolik and Ott all had two hits, while Ussary and Bennefeld each had two RBIs and Fischer had two runs scored.
The two teams will conclude the series tomorrow with a 12 p.m. contest at Arrocha Ballpark.
