Kansas City
North Dakota State
Maples Two-Run Homer Lifts UMKC Over NDSU in 12 Innings
4/22/2012 9:09:00 PM | Softball
(Fargo, N.D.) - Sunday afternoon, the UMKC softball team (19-25, 7-11 SL) defeated North Dakota State (30-17, 14-4 SL) 6-4 in 12 innings to complete its weekend series with the Bison.
In yesterday's doubleheader, North Dakota State took both games 7-4 and 4-0.
In the bottom of the third, no score, pitcher Deanna Friese (9-13) found herself in a jam with two Bison runners on and one out. But, the Kennesaw, Ga. native answered by forcing infielder Katie Tamayo to fly out and striking out outfielder Jamie Gay.
Next inning for UMKC with runners in scoring position and one out, infielder Megan Ussary lined out to center, but pinch runner Bri Wyatt scored from third to give the Kangaroos a 1-0 lead. Next up after a single by outfielder Anna Sokolik that moved catcher Caitlin Christopher to third, infielder Chelsea Hartwig lined out to short to end the inning.
Later in the inning for North Dakota State with one on and two outs, infielder Brea Konz homered to left to give her team a 2-1 lead.
In fifth with two outs and a runner at third for the Bison, Gay homered to left off new pitcher Cinda Ramos (9-11) to make it a 4-1 ball game.
To kick-start a rally in the seventh, Sokolik singled to left to lead off the inning. Next up after striking out Hartwig, pitcher Whitney Johnson (10-8) walked pinch hitter Katie Henning, followed by infielder Danielle Bennefeld doubling to left-center as Sokolik scored to cut the deficit to two.
After replacing Johnson with Krista Menke (20-9) in the circle, infielder Kaelene Curry was hit by a pitch to load the bases with pinch hitter Lea Diaz coming to the plate, but would go down swinging for the second out of the inning. Next up, Christopher sent a grounder to short, but an erred throw to first resulted in Henning and Bennefeld scoring to tie the game.
In the bottom half of the seventh with two outs and a runner at first, infielder Amanda Grable lined out to short to send the game into extra innings. Entering the weekend, the Kangaroos were 3-0 in games decided in extra innings.
In the 11th for UMKC with one out, Ramos sent a fly ball to center, but an error the Bison allowed the Olathe, Kan. native to advance to second. Next up after outfielder Megan Vicino went down looking, Bennefeld singled to left as Ramos moved to third.
But, the North Dakota State defense kept the game nodded at four when Curry grounded out to short to end the inning.
Next inning for UMKC with one on and one out, infielder Marlee Maples (2) homered to left off Menke to make it a 6-4 ball game.
To close out the game, UMKC retired the next three batters after giving up a leadoff single to catcher Jenina Ortega.
Coming up, the Blue & Gold will conclude its six-game road trip with a doubleheader against Kansas this Wednesday at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
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