UMKC Preps for Weekend Series Against League Foe IUPUI
4/13/2012 11:53:00 AM | Softball
Currently, the Kangaroos sit sixth behind South Dakota (12-30, 9-6 SL), IPFW (29-9, 8-4 SL), Southern Utah (24-17, 10-5 SL), North Dakota State (25-14, 9-3 SL), and Western Illinois (22-18, 12-3 SL), while the Jaguars are eighth behind South Dakota State (9-20-1, 3-9 SL).
THE OPPONENT
» IUPUI Jaguars (11-26, 3-9 Summit League as of April 13)
Entering the weekend, IUPUI has dropped four out of its last five, including a 4-0 loss to crosstown rival Butler on Thursday. Earlier in the season, UMKC defeated Butler twice in the Evansville Tournament (Feb. 25-26), 2-0 and 1-0.
At the plate, outfielder/catcher Nicole Checkie leads IUPUI in batting (.291), hits (30), runs (14), slugging (.388), and is tied with catcher Eryn Dillion for second in stolen bases (10) behind outfielder Ashley Seering (11). Also, infielder Jenny Royse leads the Jaguars in RBI (18) and home runs (4) despite hitting .188 on the year.
In the circle, five pitchers have made appearances throughout 2012, led by Nikki Thomas (4-14) with 22 for a 2.94 ERA, 79 strikeouts, and two saves. As for Jocelyn Oppenhuis (4-9), she holds a 3.20 ERA to go along with a team-high 84 strikeouts in 18 appearances.
» The Head Coach: Hired in June 2010 as an assistant, interim head coach Jana Fields spent the previous six seasons at Saint Leo University (Fla.) where she worked primarily with the pitchers and was the program's recruiting coordinator.
» The Series: UMKC is 27-20 all-time against the Jaguars. Last season on April 30, the Kangaroos traveled to IUPUI and took both games in a doubleheader, 9-0 and 8-6. Game three was cancelled the next day due to rain.
LAST TIME OUT...
The Kangaroos went 2-1 in a three-game set on the road against South Dakota State on April 6-7.
In the doubleheader on April 6, UMKC won game one, 9-1, behind a 3-for-4 performance at the plate by catcher Caitlin Christopher that included three doubles, three RBI, and two runs. In the circle, junior Deanna Friese (8-10) allowed one hit and one run along with striking out 10 on her way to completing her 14th game of season. Later in the day, UMKC fell 4-0 to the Jackrabbits in game two.
On April 7, the Kangaroos won 12-1 in six innings via mercy rule as they scored a season-high in runs led by infielder Kaelene Curry going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run. Also, infielder Chelsea Hartwig went 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs, and a walk as Christopher went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Infielder Marlee Maples also chipped in with a 2-for-4 performance with two RBI and a run.
As for Friese, she allowed five hits and one earned run along with striking out six.
FRIESE EARNS SECOND LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE WEEK AWARD OF 2012
Monday, Friese earned her seventh career Summit League Pitcher of the Week honor and second of the season after going undefeated in three starts against Missouri State and South Dakota State.
For the week, Friese struck out 18, while yielding 11 hits, three earned runs, and eight walks in 20.2 innings of work for a 1.02 ERA, including 18 strikeouts and a 0.51 ERA in league action.
On Feb. 20, the Kennesaw, Ga. native won the league Pitcher of the Week award after allowing one hit and one earned, while striking out nine on Feb. 14 against Hawaii, who is currently the No. 14th ranked team in the nation.
Also this season, Friese became the program's all-time leader in innings pitched (526.0) and completed games (60).
For the year, Friese is 29th in the nation in strikeouts (155) while holding a 2.96 ERA to go along with 15 completed games and two saves in 26 appearances.
WHAT A WEEK FOR CHRISTOPHER
In five games last week, the freshman out of Denton, Texas batted .467 with seven hits, four RBI, and two runs along with a .667 slugging percentage.
Her best performance came in game one against South Dakota State when she went 3-for-4, recording three doubles along with driving three and scoring twice. The next day against the Jackrabbits, Christopher went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
For the season, Christopher is hitting .296 with 21 hits, 12 RBI, and tied for the team leader in home runs (2) with infielder Megan Ussary.
WHERE THEY STAND IN THE RPI
On Monday, the NCAA released its third RPI rankings of 2012 as the Kangaroos moved up six spots to claim the 134th position. In 2011, UMKC finished with its highest ranking in team history at 117.
CURRY AND OTT APPROACHING UMKC CAREER MILESTONES
With the Kangaroos playing three games in the next two days, Curry needs two hits to become the program's all-time leader in hits (201), while outfielder Emily Ott needs to drive in seven to pass Amanda Rice (1999-02) for the most RBI (97).
MOVING UP THE CAREER LIST
This past weekend, six Kangaroo student-athletes moved up the all-time UMKC career list in seven different categories.
Ott moved into seventh for most doubles (25), 10th for most walks (36), and fourth most stolen bases (32), while Ussary is now 10th in triples (5) and eighth in assists (171).
Also, Curry is now tied for second in walks (65) with Lindsey Ramsey (2001-04), while outfielder Anna Sokolik moved into eighth slot for most stolen bases (27) as Hartwig is now sixth for most putouts (551).
As for Friese, she tied Erin Brown (1997-00) for the third most starts as a pitcher (78).
THROUGH 37 GAMES IN 2011...
The 'Roos were 10-5 in the Summit League and 23-14 overall coming off a 5-4 loss to Missouri State on April 12 in the finale of a doubleheader.
Currently, the Blue & Gold are 17-20 (5-7 SL) heading its weekend series against IUPUI.
NEXT UP FOR THE KANGAROOS...
Will be a road test against the Arkansas Razorbacks next Tuesday at 5 p.m. Last season, UMKC traveled to Fayetteville, Ark. to beat the Razorbacks for the first time in team history, 2-1.
