?Roos Continue Road Trip With a Weekend Series Against North Dakota State
4/20/2012 10:00:00 AM | Softball
(Kansas City, Mo.) - Saturday (12 p.m. and 2 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m.), the UMKC softball team (18-23, 6-9 SL) will look to climb the Summit League standings as it takes on the North Dakota State Bison (28-16, 12-3 SL) on the road.
Currently, the Kangaroos sit sixth behind South Dakota (12-33, 9-9 SL), Southern Utah (25-19, 11-7 SL), IPFW (33-10, 10-5 SL), Western Illinois (22-20, 12-3 SL), and the Bison.
THE OPPONENT
» North Dakota State Bison (28-16, 12-3 Summit League as of April 20)
Coming into the weekend, North Dakota State has won three out of its last five, including a three-game sweep over South Dakota last week. On Wednesday, the Bison were blanketed on the road in a doubleheader matchup against Minnesota, 4-0 and 5-0.
Offensively, North Dakota State has four players with 20 or more RBI led by freshman catcher/infielder Amanda Gable (26), including a team-high seven homeruns. Earlier in the season, Gable was named the league's player of week after posting a .429 batting average (6-for-14) with a .786 slugging percentage, including three extra-base hits (two doubles and a homerun), four runs scored, three RBI, and one stolen base over a five-game stretch.
Also at the plate, outfielder Taylor Mortensen leads the team in hits (41) and is second behind Gable in homeruns (6) and RBI (24) while batting .306.
In the circle, Krista Menke (19-8) holds a team-best 1.95 ERA to go along with 147 strikeouts in 32 appearances. Throughout 2012, the Friend, Neb. native has been named league pitcher of the week five times. As for Whitney Johnson (9-8), she has struck out 130 batters on her way to a 2.33 ERA in 19 appearances.
» The Head Coach: Darren Mueller is in his 11th season at the helm and holds a 379-216 overall record. In 2011, Mueller led the Bison to their third straight Summit League tournament championship, followed by a loss to the No. 1-ranked and eventual national champion Arizona State Sun Devils.
» The Series: The Kangaroos are 4-16 all-time against North Dakota State. Last season (March 12-13), UMKC swept the regular season series by outscoring the Bison 13-1 in three games.
Later in the season, North Dakota State defeated UMKC in the league championship game, 5-0, to move on to the NCAA Tournament.
LAST TIME OUT...
The Kangaroos began its six-game road trip with a 2-0 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks earlier in this week on Tuesday.
In the first inning, Arkansas catcher Jayme Gee RBI-singled to left-center and later advanced to second on the throw after outfielder Devon Wallace scored from second for the game's first run.
To lead off the third, same score, Razorback infielder Maddie Reese homered to left off pitcher Deanna Friese (9-12) to make it a 2-0 ball game.
In the sixth with a runner on second and two outs for the Razorbacks, pitcher Cinda Ramos (8-10) struck out infielder Chole Oprzedek to keep it a two-score game.
To lead off the seventh, outfielder Emily Ott singled to center to kick-start a possible rally. But, Arkansas retired the next three batters, including pitcher Kimmy Beasley (9-5) striking out outfielder Anna Sokolik to end the game.
WHERE THEY STAND IN THE RPI
On Monday, the NCAA released its fourth RPI rankings of 2012 as the Kangaroos claimed the 159th spot. In 2011, UMKC finished with its highest ranking in team history at 117.
THROUGH 41 GAMES IN 2011...
The 'Roos were 10-5 in the Summit League and 27-14 overall coming off a 5-3 win over South Dakota on April 17 in their fourth game of the Dakota's Round Robin Tournament.
Currently, the Blue & Gold are 18-23 (6-9 SL) heading into its weekend series with North Dakota State.
NEXT UP FOR THE KANGAROOS...
They will conclude their six-game road swing next Wednesday in a doubleheader against Kansas at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
