Kansas City
Saint Louis
'Roos Down Billikens, Fall To Tigers In Weather-Shortened Saint Louis Breast Cancer Tournament
3/6/2011 9:34:00 PM | Softball
St. Louis, Mo. -- The UMKC softball team (10-6) splits is games on Sunday at the Saint Louis Breast Cancer Tournament after inclement weather forced the cancellation of Saturday's contests. The 'Roos opened the day with a 3-0 loss to No. 18 Missouri (11-3), before handing host Saint Louis (12-6) a 7-6 defeat in the night cap.
Against Missouri, the first seven batters in the UMKC line-up were retired before junior Danielle Bennefeld doubled to left center for the squad's first hit in the top of the third.
Mizzou though cracked the scoreboard first with a pair of runs off UMKC starter Deanna Friese in the bottom of the third.
UMKC again threatened in the fifth, getting hits from freshman Katie Henning and Bennefeld, but could not push a run across.
The Tigers then added an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning to seal the 3-0 victory.
In the game, Friese threw all six innings, allowing three runs on five hits, while striking out five.
Against Saint Louis, the Billikens jumped in front early, getting single runs in the second and third to take a 2-0 lead.
UMKC though quickly responded with a four-run third to take its first lead of the game.
Junior Ashley Whiteside led the inning off by reaching on a single, before junior Anna Sokolik walked and junior Megan Ussary was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Designated player Emily Ott then became the second straight 'Roo to get hit by a pitch, forcing in Whiteside for the first run. Henning then followed up with a bases clearing double down the right field line, putting the 'Roos up 4-2.
Two innings later, UMKC extended its lead to 6-2 when Henning again doubled to knock in Sokolik and Ott.
The two teams then traded runs in the sixth with the 'Roos scoring on Sokolik's RBI single that scored junior shortstop Kaelene Curry.
The Billikens would attempt a comeback in the seventh, cutting the lead to one, but Friese (8-4) would strike out the game's final batter to secure the 7-6 win.
On the day, Henning finished with three hits and five RBIs to lead the UMKC offense, while Ott and Sokolik finished with the squad's other two RBIs.
UMKC will be in action again on Saturday when they open up Summit League play with North Dakota State in Lawrence, Kan.
