UMKC Kicks Off a Seven-Game Road Trip in Utah with BYU and Utah Valley
3/26/2012 6:10:00 PM | Softball
Later in the week, UMKC will face its first league road test of the year when it takes on Southern Utah (16-13, 6-3 SL) in a three-game set on Friday (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.) and Saturday (1 p.m.).
THE OPPONENTS
» BYU Cougars (19-8, 3-0 Western Athletic Conference as of March 26)
Coming of an eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2011, BYU has won 10 out of its last 12 games entering Tuesday's doubleheader.
Offensively, outfielder Delaney Willard leads BYU in batting (.500), runs (24), hits (38), doubles (8), home runs (11), RBI (41), walks (15), slugging (1.039), and on-base percentage (.585). Right behind her, infielder Stacie Toney is second in batting (.384), RBI (19), slugging (.616), and on-base percentage (.458). Toney is also tied for second with outfielder Tiffany Messerschmidt in home runs (3)
On the mound, pitcher Tori Almond (5-2) holds a team-best 2.39 ERA to go along with 54 strikeouts in 14 appearances this season. As for Hannah Howell (9-4), she has struck out a team-high 60 batters to go along with a 2.95 ERA and one save in 21 appearances, while Caroline Umphlett (5-2) has a 3.09 ERA with 27 strikeouts and two saves in 18 appearances.
» The Head Coach: In his 10th season at the helm, Gordon Eakin holds a 390-168 (.700) overall record. Before moving to the Western Athletic Conference this season, Eakin led BYU to five Mountain West Conference titles along with three-straight coach of the year honors (2009, 2010, 2011). In addition, Eakin serves as the USA National Softball Team hitting coach.
» The Series: UMKC is 0-1 all-time against BYU. Last time out, the Kangaroos fell 1-2 at home to the Cougars on March 21, 2003.
» Utah Valley Wolverines (18-6-1, 0-0 Pacific Coast Softball Conference as of March 26)
Coming into Wednesday's doubleheader, the Wolverines have won eight of their nine games, including a 5-1 record to win the Great West Cluster Tournament in Farmers Branch, Texas this past weekend.
At the plate, five players have totaled 20+ hits this season led by infielder Amanda Robinson with 20. In addition, Robinson leads the team in homers (5), RBI (19), slugging (.703), and on-base percentage (.458).
On the mound, pitcher Tiffany Mills (10-4) has a team-high 59 strikeouts and five saves in 21 appearances for an ERA of 1.98. Earlier this month, Mills received back-to-back conference pitcher of the week honors. As for Megan Peay (4-1), she holds a team-best 0.45 ERA in seven appearances this season, while Cassie Herrera (4-1) has a 3.78 ERA to go along with 17 strikeouts.
» The Head Coach: Todd Fairbourne is in his 14th season at Utah Valley and holds a 382-323-2 (.540) overall record. Last season, he was named the PCSC Mountain Division Coach of the Year after he helped his team to a third-place finish with a 12-8 conference record and just missed taking his team to the conference championship series.
» The Series: The Kangaroos are 1-0 all-time against Utah Valley. Back on Feb. 13, 2005, UMKC defeated the Wolverines, 4-3, in the Hilton Las Cruces Classic in Las Cruces, N.M.
LAST TIME OUT...
The Kangaroos went 1-2 in a series this past weekend against league opponent IPFW. In the doubleheader on Saturday, the Mastodons took both games, 4-3 and 2-0.
On Sunday, the Kangaroos defeated the Mastodons, 5-4, in 14 innings after outfielder Anna Sokolik RBI-singled to left-center to bring home infielder Kaelene Curry from third for the game-winning run.
FRIESE APPROACHING UMKC CAREER MILESTONES
With the Kangaroos playing four games in the next two days, pitcher Deanna Friese (4-8) needs to complete one game to pass with Lindsey Davis (2002-03) for the most completed games (56).
Also, if Friese pitches at least 11.8 more innings, she would pass Jeneane Mudloff (1988-91) and Erin Brown (1997-00) for most innings pitched (499.0).
Presently, the Kennesaw, Ga. native sits first in UMKC career wins (44) and most strikeouts (623). This season, the reigning Summit League Pitcher of the Year holds a 2.62 ERA with a team-high 105 strikeouts and two saves in 18 appearances.
MOVING UP THE CAREER LIST
Along with Friese, two Kangaroo student-athletes moved up the all-time UMKC career list in four different categories this past weekend.
Kelly Fischer moved into fourth place for most walks (46) and most sacrifice hits (30), while tying Monica Canisales (2005-08) for the seventh most games played (177).
Also, Emily Ott claimed the eighth spot for most hits with 127.
THROUGH 25 GAMES IN 2011...
The 'Roos were 5-4 in the Summit League and 15-10 overall coming off a 9-7 loss to South Dakota State in the last game of a three-game set on March 27.
Currently, the Blue & Gold are 12-13 (2-4 SL) through 25 games heading into doubleheaders against BYU and Utah Valley this week.
