Kansas City
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Kansas
UMKC Picks Up First Win Over KU In Doubleheader Split
3/30/2011 9:32:00 PM | Softball
Kansas City, Mo. -- The UMKC softball team (18-11) split its doubleheader with Kansas (27-7) on Wednesday night at Loyola Park on the campus of Rockhurst University. The 'Roos downed the Jayhawks 2-1 in the opening game, their first win against KU in 27 games, before falling 4-2 in the late game.
Junior Anna Sokolik led the 'Roos on the day, finishing 4-for-7 with a run, an RBI and a double, while tossing 3.1 innings of scoreless relief in game two. Sophomore Deanna Friese (13-6), meanwhile, tossed a complete game, five-hitter with eight strikeouts in the opening game.
In game one, the 'Roos struck early with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Shortstop Kaelene Curry led the game off with a single and quickly moved to second on second baseman Kelly Fischer's single. Sokolik then drove in Curry with a single to center before Emily Ott's single knocked in Fischer.
The Kangaroos would threaten again in the second when Fischer and Sokolik singled and Ott walked, but the squad could not come up with the two out run.
Friese, meanwhile, recorded five of the first six outs via the strikeout, while holding the Jayhawks scoreless until a lead-off home run in the top of the sixth.
After the home run, the Kennesaw, Ga., native settled down and retired six of the final eight KU batters to pick up her 13th win of the season.
In the late game, the 'Roos again jumped out to a first inning lead when Curry singled and eventually came around to score on a passed ball by the Kansas catcher.
The two squads then went scoreless over the next two inning before KU broke through for four runs in the fourth off UMKC starter Katie Franks.
The 'Roos would cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the inning when Sokolik singled and scored on junior Megan Ussary's RBI double, but could get no closer, falling 4-2.
In the game, Franks (2-4) threw 3.2 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits, while striking out three.
On the day, Fischer, Ott, Curry and Danielle Bennefeld all notched two hits, while Curry scored two runs.
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again this weekend when they welcome in Western Illinois for a three-game Summit League series starting on Saturday at noon.
