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Kansas City
South Dakota
?Roos Split Doubleheader with South Dakota to Open Up League Play
3/10/2012 9:22:00 PM | Softball
In the first game with UMKC down 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth with one out and senior Kelly Fischer at first, senior Megan Ussary tripled to right field as Fischer scored to tie the game. Next up, junior Emily Ott followed up with an RBI-triple of her own as Ussary scored to give UMKC a 2-1 lead.
The big inning continued for the Kangaroos when junior Chelsea Hartwig singled to left field to bring home Ott.
Next up, with senior Ashley Whiteside pinch running for Hartwig, senior Anna Sokolik hit one up middle, but an erred throw by pitcher Erica Denney to second, advanced Whiteside to third as she later scored after a throwing error by outfielder Stephanie Hall.
Following Sokolik, freshman Marlee Maples singled to right-center to bring home Sokolik to give UMKC a 5-1 lead.
Next inning for the Coyotes, Katie Dinning and Alexa Rudeen both singled off pitcher Deanna Friese (3-4) to possibly kick-start a rally. Next up, Bre Zmolek reached base after an error by Ussary to load the bases for South Dakota.
However, the 'Roos kept the score at bay by retiring the next three batters, including the last two for Friese's third and fourth strikeout's of the game.
In the bottom of the half of the fifth, UMKC tacked on two more runs after a sacrifice-fly by Ussary and an RBI-double by Hartwig to seal the victory.
On the mound, Friese completed her seventh game of the season with five strikeouts and six hits given up. At the plate, Ott went 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs, while Hartwig also went 2-for-3 but with two RBI. Also, Ussary went 1-for-2 with two RBI and one run.
In game two, the Kangaroos trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the third until Ussary RBI-singled to right center to drive in senior Kaelene Curry after a throwing error by Katie Dinning.
Later in the game, South Dakota's Allie Daly homered off freshman Cinda Ramos (7-2) to lead off the top of the sixth to give South Dakota a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth with two on and one out, the 'Roos answered when Sokolik singled up the middle to bring in Ott to score, while Hartwig advanced to third. But, Sokolik was thrown out at second after rounding first, followed by a Maples fly-out to left to end the inning.
In the seventh with two outs and nobody on, Dinning tripled to right-center, followed by an RBI-single up the middle by Rudeen to give the Coyotes a 3-2 lead. The 'Roos would keep it a one-score game after Zmolek lined-out to left for the third out.
In hopes of a rally, the Kangaroos were retired in order as South Dakota ended a five-game skid.
The two teams will conclude its three-game set tomorrow at 12 p.m.
