Kansas City
Missouri State
'Roos Drop A Pair At Missouri State As Curry Extends Hit Streak To 22
4/12/2011 7:52:00 PM | Softball
Springfield, Mo. -- The UMKC softball team (23-14) lost both games of a doubleheader at Missouri State (17-17) on Tuesday afternoon at Killian Stadium in Springfield, Mo. In the first game, the 'Roos fell 9-1 in five innings before suffering 5-4 defeat in game two.
Junior Kaelene Curry led the UMKC offense, as the 'Roo shortstop extended her hit streak to 22 games, going 2-for-6 with a stolen base on the day.
In the opening game, the Bears jumped ahead early, scoring a pair of unearned runs in each of the first two innings off UMKC starter Emily Ott (2-2).
The 'Roos cut the lead to three at 4-1 in the top of the third when Danielle Bennefeld led-off with a double and eventually scored on Ashley Whiteside's sacrifice bunt, but the Bears would answer with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning, chasing Ott from the game.
Missouri State would go on to add four more runs in the bottom of the fourth to seal the 9-1 victory.
In the game, Ott tossed 2.1 innings, allowing five runs, one earned, on seven hits, while Anna Sokolik threw 1.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits.
In the second game, the 'Roos got on the board first in the top of the second with a single run in the top of the second when senior Lauren Rodrigues doubled in Megan Vicino from first.
The Bears would tie the game in the bottom half of the inning, but two innings later, UMKC would tack on a pair of runs to go up 3-1. Ussary led-off the inning with a double down the left field line and moved to second on sophomore Lindsey Davis' sacrifice bunt. Danielle Bennefeld then walked, putting runners on the corner for the Kangaroos. The squad then executed a double steal with Ussary crossing the plate and Bennefeld ending up on third. After a walk to Rodrigues, freshman Katie Henning executed the 'Roos second squeeze of the day as Bennefeld scored the squad's final run of the inning.
In the fifth, the 'Roos pushed their lead to 4-1 when Ott knocked in junior Kelly Fischer from second with a single to left.
Missouri State, though, came back in the bottom of the fourth when the Bears took their first lead of the game, scoring four runs, two unearned, off UMKC starter Deanna Friese (17-7).
UMKC would only manage one baserunner over the final two innings and MSU would hang on for the 5-4 win to sweep the doubleheader.
In the game, Friese tossed all six innings, allowing three earned runs, while striking out six. Offensively, Ussary and Fischer each went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
The Blue and Gold will be back in action again on Saturday when they kick-off the 2011 Dakota's Round Robin Tournament against South Dakota at 2:30 p.m.
