UMKC to Closeout Its Six-Game Road Swing Against Kansas
4/24/2012 3:40:00 PM | Softball
THE OPPONENT
» Kansas Jayhawks (28-16, 5-13 Big 12 as of April 24)
Coming in, KU has dropped four out of its last six games, but went 2-1 this past weekend against Iowa State. Currently, KU is the midst of a season-long 13-game homestand, which will conclude later this week against Texas Tech.
As a unit, the Jayhawks sit 40th in the nation in hitting (.297), spearheaded by outfielder Maggie Hull (.424), utility player Maddie Stein (.408), and outfielder Liz Kocon (.330). Also, KU has three players with 30 or more RBI led by infielder Mariah Montgomery (42), including a team-high seven home runs. Meanwhile, Hull and Kocon are tied for second in RBI (31), whereas Hull leads the team in hits (61) and second in home runs (6).
In the circle, pitcher Alicia Pille (15-9) holds a team-best 2.31 ERA to go along with a team-high 154 strikeouts and four saves in 33 appearances this season. As for Morgan Druhan (8-5) and Kristin Martinez (5-2), each has appeared in 20 games as Druhan holds a 4.00 ERA with 75 strikeouts, while Martinez has struck out 36 batters with a 4.04 ERA.
» The Head Coach: Named the eighth coach in the program's history on June 24, 2009, Megan Smith served as an assistant at Louisiana State University for three seasons before heading to Lawrence, Kan.
Last season, Smith guided her team to an 11.5-game improvement from the 2010 season, which is the 16th-best turnaround in NCAA history.
» The Series: The Kangaroos are 1-26 all-time against Kansas. Last season in game one of a doubleheader on March 30, UMKC defeated the Jayhawks for the first time in team history, 2-1. Later in the day, Kansas took game two, 4-2.
LAST TIME OUT..
The Kangaroos went 1-2 against the North Dakota State Bison on April 21-22.
In the doubleheader on April 21, the Kangaroos dropped both games, 7-5 and 4-0, including Bison pitcher Whitney Johnson (10-9) throwing a no-hitter along with 10 strikeouts and one walk in game two.
The following day, UMKC avoided the sweep with a 6-4 victory over the Bison after infielder Marlee Maples hit a two-run shot to left in the 12th inning.
MOVING UP THE CAREER LIST
This past weekend, four Kangaroo student-athletes moved up the all-time UMKC career list in five different categories.
Infielder Kelly Fischer moved into sixth for most games played (195) and tied Becky Burger (1999-03) for the third most sacrifice hits (33). Also, catcher/infielder Danielle Bennefeld tied Lindsay Kendrick (20) for the 10th most doubles, while infielder Megan Ussary tied Chrystal Vega (1999-02) and Kari Thurman (2002-03) for most RBI (50).
As for pitcher Deanna Friese (9-13), she is now tied with Jeneane Mudloff (1988-91) for most starts (83).
WHERE THEY STAND IN THE RPI
Tuesday, the NCAA released its fifth RPI rankings of 2012 as the Kangaroos claimed the 163rd spot. In 2011, UMKC finished with its highest ranking in team history at 117.
THROUGH 44 GAMES IN 2011...
The 'Roos were 13-5 in the Summit League and 30-14 overall coming off a 5-4 win to sweep Oakland on April 24.
Currently, the Blue & Gold are 19-25 (7-11 SL) heading into its doubleheader matchup with Kansas.
NEXT UP FOR THE KANGAROOS...
They will return home for the final time of 2012 to take on Oakland in a three-game set on April 28-29.
