Kansas City
Southern Utah
Three Homers by Griffin Pushes Southern Utah Past Kangaroos, 9-6
3/31/2012 4:40:00 PM | Softball
Yesterday, the two teams split a doubleheader as UMKC took game one, 5-2, but dropped game two, 5-3.
In the first inning for UMKC with one on and two outs, outfielder Emily Ott RBI-singled through the right side and would later advance to second on the throw after infielder Kaelene Curry scored to give the Kangaroos an early 1-0 lead.
But, Southern Utah tied the game in the first when infielder Mikkel Griffin homered to left off pitcher Deanna Friese (5-10). Later in the inning, infielder Madison Resley singled to center as infielder Kelsey Bryant scored from second to give the Thunderbirds a 2-1 lead.
Next inning with two on and two outs, Griffin hit her second home run of the day as she increased Southern Utah's lead to four. In the third, designated player Haylee Hoch hit a solo shot to center to make it a 6-1 ball game.
In the sixth with the bases loaded and one out for UMKC, Southern Utah up 7-1, infielder Marlee Maples cut the deficit to five when she singled to bring in Ott from third. Next up, catcher Katie Henning reached first on a fielding error by the Thunderbirds as infielder Megan Ussary scored from third.
Later in the inning with two outs and the bases still loaded, Curry RBI-tripled down the right field line as three runners scored to make it a 7-6 ball game. Southern Utah would then make a pitching change as Danielle Axe (2) replaced Heather Black (13-9). Next up, infielder Kelly Fischer lined out to third to end the inning.
In the bottom half of the sixth with one on and nobody out, Griffin homered for a third time, but off pitcher Cinda Ramos (8-7) to push Southern Utah's lead back to three.
Down to its last out in the seventh with Ott at second, infielder Chelsea Hartwig struck out swinging to end the game.
The Blue & Gold will be in action this Tuesday at home as it will take on the Missouri State Bears in a doubleheader matchup (3 p.m. and 5 p.m.).
Earlier in the season, UMKC defeated the Bears, 7-0, in the sixth game of the Missouri Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament on March 3 in Kansas City. With that victory, head coach Meredith Smith became the first coach in the program's history to reach the century mark in wins.
