Kansas City
Oakland
Kangaroos Take Two From Oakland To Open Series
4/23/2011 6:12:00 PM | Softball
Rochester, Mich. -- The UMKC softball team (29-14, 12-5) picked up a pair of Summit League wins on Saturday afternoon over Oakland (11-24, 5-11) at the OU Softball Field in Rochester, Mich. The 'Roos opened up the series with a come-from-behind 4-2 win in eight innings, before pounding the Golden Grizzlies, 11-5 in the late game.
In the opening game, the Golden Grizzlies struck first, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning off UMKC starter Deanna Friese.
Oakland held the 2-0 lead until the fifth inning, as the Grizzlies' Marisa Everitt kept the 'Roos hitless through the first four inning of play.
In the fifth, freshman Katie Henning led-off with a single to left and two batters later senior Lauren Rodrigues singled through the right side to put runners on first and second for the 'Roos. After a sacrifice bunt by junior Ashley Whiteside, fellow junior Kaelene Curry singled to right field to plate Henning and the pinch running Megan Vicino to tie the game at 2-2.
After a scoreless sixth and seventh inning, UMKC would untie the game in the top of the eighth when junior Megan Ussary's two-out triple down the right field line plated Curry, who led the inning off with a double. Sophomore Emily Ott then followed with a single to short to knock in Curry and give the Kangaroos a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Friese sat down the OU hitters in order for her UMKC record tying 20th win of the season.
In the game, Curry went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Friese (20-7) tossed all eight innings, her longest outing of the year, allowing six hits, while striking out eight.
In the second game, the 'Roos put the Grizzlies away early, when they struck for seven runs in the first inning thanks to five Oakland errors.
In the first, Curry reached first after getting hit by a pitch and junior Kelly Fischer put runners on first and second with a single to second. Two batters later, Ussary singled with Curry scoring on an error by the OU shortstop. A second straight error by the shortstop allowed Ott to reach first and Fischer to score, putting UMKC up 2-0.
Henning, the 'Roos next batter, then knocked in Ussary with a fielder's choice, while the catcher also reached first on the play. Danielle Bennefeld then reached base on an error by the OU pitcher, as Ott crossed the plate on the play. Sophomore Lindsey Davis then laced a single down the left field line that scored Henning and pushed the lead to 5-0.
The 'Roos ninth batter in the inning, Whiteside, then reached on an error by the third baseman, as Bennefeld scored on the play after an error by the Oakland left fielder. Curry then singled in a pinch running Amanda Kinn for the 'Roos final run of the inning.
After a single run by Oakland in the bottom of the first, UMKC tacked on three more runs in the top of the second when Bennefeld blasted her team-leading fourth home run of the season, scoring Ott and Henning.
After a scoreless third and fourth innings, Oakland cut the lead to six at 10-4 with three runs in the fifth.
UMKC then extended its lead to 11-4 in the top of the sixth when Bennefeld drove in Ott with a single to center.
OU would add a final run in the bottom of the seventh, but UMKC starter Sokolik would strikeout the final Grizzly hitter to give the 'Roos the doubleheader sweep.
In the game, Bennefeld went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs, while Ott finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored. On the mound, Sokolik (5-0) tossed a complete game, allowing two earned runs, while striking out seven batters.
The two teams will wrap-up the series tomorrow with the third and final game, with the first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.
