Kansas City
Western Illinois
Sokolik's Walk-Off Double Helps 'Roos To Doubleheader Split With Leathernecks
4/2/2011 4:45:00 PM | Softball
Kansas City, Mo. -- The UMKC softball team (19-12, 6-5) splits its Saturday afternoon doubleheader with Western Illinois (10-16, 7-4) at Loyola Park. In the opening game, the 'Roos won 3-2 on junior Anna Sokolik's walk-off RBI double before falling 10-1 in the second game.
On the day, junior Kaelene Curry led the UMKC offense, going 4-for-7 with two runs scored and a stolen base, while Sokolik was 3-for-6 with a double, a run, an RBI and a stolen base.
In the opening game, the 'Roos took the early lead when Curry singled and stole second before coming around to score on sophomore Emily Ott's RBI single in the bottom of the first.
UMKC starter Deanna Friese (14-6), meanwhile, retired six of the first seven batters she faced until a lead-off single in the third and a two-run home run two batters later put WIU on top 2-1.
The 'Roos though would battle back to tie the game up in the bottom of the fifth when Curry again led-off with a single and moved to third on a Sokolik single. Sokolik then stole second and the WIU throw went into centerfield, allowing Curry to score and tie the game at two.
Friese then held Western Illinois scoreless in their final two at-bats, sending the game to the bottom of the seventh tied at two. In the inning, second baseman Kelly Fischer singled to left to put the winning run on base. Sokolik then stepped to the plate and ripped a double to left center scoring Fischer and giving the 'Roos the 3-2 win.
In the second game, the Leathernecks jumped ahead early with four runs off UMKC starter Katie Franks in the top of the first before tagging Sokolik with four runs in the top of the second.
The 'Roos, meanwhile, managed only two baserunners over the first three innings, as freshman Katie Henning and junior Ashley Whiteside each walked in their first plate appearance.
In the top of the fourth, WIU would add two more runs, but the 'Roos would counter with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning to end the shutout. In the inning, Sokolik struck out but reached first on a wild pitch and moved to second on an error by the WIU catcher. Ott then reached first and moved Sokolik to third on a fielder's choice. Sokolik would then cross the plate when junior Megan Ussary grounded into a double play.
In the top of the fifth, Sokolik held the Leathernecks scoreless, but the 'Roos were still looking for their first hit heading into the last inning of play.
In the inning, Danielle Bennefeld grounded out to third to lead-off the inning, but senior Amanda Kinn singled to left to give the 'Roos their first hit. Two batters later, Curry would collect the squad's second hit, but the 'Roos would fall by a final score of 10-1.
On the day, Kinn and Bennefeld each recorded two hits for UMKC.
The two teams will be back in action again tomorrow with the series finale beginning at noon.
