Kangaroos Return Home for a Weekend Series With Oakland
4/27/2012 3:54:00 PM | Softball
Currently, the Kangaroos sit sixth behind South Dakota (13-36, 9-9 SL), IPFW (37-11, 12-6 SL), Southern Utah (28-21, 14-7 SL), Western Illinois (23-22, 13-5 SL), and North Dakota State (30-17, 14-4 SL), while Oakland is eighth behind IUPUI (17-30, 6-12 SL).
THE OPPONENT
» Oakland Grizzlies (8-35, 5-16 SL as of April 27)
Coming into the weekend, Oakland is 5-5 in their last 10 games, including a 6-5 win over South Dakota State (12-25-1, 4-4 SL) at home to end a 16-game losing streak on April 13.
Offensively, outfielder/catcher Erika Polidori leads the Grizzlies in batting (.379), hits (44), doubles (9), triples (2), runs (23), home runs (6), slugging (.647), and stolen bases (17), while second in RBI with 15 behind infielder Erin Galloway's 21.
In the circle, pitcher Brittany Doyle (5-15) holds a team-best 5.03 ERA to go along with a team-high 88 strikeouts in 25 appearances this season. As for Abbie Richardson (3-10), she holds an ERA of 5.10 with 25 strikeouts in 17 appearances.
» The Head Coach: In her second season at the helm, LaDonia Hughes spent the previous four years as an assistant coach at Western Illinois. As a player after transferring from the junior college ranks to Louisiana State, she scored 53 runs, drove in 29 runs, and stole 28 bases while batting .350 in 69 games.
In addition, she was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American Second Team and the All-South Region and All-SEC first teams.
» The Series: The Kangaroos are 23-26 all-time against the Grizzlies. Last season, UMKC swept Oakland on the road 4-2 in eight innings, 11-5, and 5-4.
LAST TIME OUT...
The Kangaroos traveled to nearby Lawrence, Kan. earlier in the week on Wednesday and dropped both games in a doubleheader to the Kansas Jayhawks, 3-1 and 3-2.
In game one, the Jayhawks to an early 2-0 lead in the first when infielder Maddie Stein hit a two-run homer to right off pitcher Deanna Friese (9-14).
Next inning, UMKC cut the deficit to one when infielder Chelsea Hartwig RBI-singled to left as infielder/outfielder Marlee Maples scored from third.
In the fifth for Kansas, same score, outfielder Liz Kocon made it a 3-1 ball game when she bunted and reached first as outfielder Elsa Moyer scored from third.
In the seventh for UMKC with two outs, Jayhawks still leading 3-1, infielder Kaelene Curry kept her team's rally hopes alive when she singled through the left side as outfielder Bri Wyatt advanced to second after singling earlier in the inning. But the ensuing batter, infielder Kelly Fischer, popped out to short to end the game.
In game two, the Kangaroos took a 1-0 lead in the first when Hartwig RBI-doubled to center as infielder Megan Ussary scored from first. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, outfielder Megan Vicino reached on a fielder's choice as Maples was thrown out at third after Hartwig scored from third.
But, the Jayhawks made it a one-score game later in the inning after outfielder Maggie Hull homered to right-center off pitcher Cinda Ramos (9-12).
In the fifth, same score, Moyer singled and later advanced to third after a Kangaroo error as a runner scored to tie the game. Next up, Hull RBI-singled to left to bring in Moyer for the final run of the game.
SENIORS BEING HONORED
On Sunday, senior's Danielle Bennefeld, Kaelene Curry, Anna Sokolik, Megan Vicino, Kelly Fischer, Megan Ussary, and Ashley Whiteside will be honored for Senior Day. Between these players, they have played in a combined 1,404 games throughout their careers in a Kangaroo uniform.
MOVING UP THE CAREER LIST
This past Wednesday, three Kangaroo student-athletes moved up the all-time UMKC career list in three different categories.
Kaelene Curry moved into the seventh slot for most games played with 195, while Chelsea Hartwig tied Megan Ussary, Kari Thurman (2002-03), and Chrystal Vega (1999-02) for the eighth most RBI (50).
As for Deanna Friese, she passed Jeneane Mudloff (1988-91) for most games started as a pitcher with 84.
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 46 GAMES IN 2011...
UMKC was 15-5 in the Summit League and 32-14 overall coming off an 8-6 win in eight innings over IUPUI on April 30.
Currently, the Blue & Gold are 19-27 (7-11 SL) heading into its weekend series with the Grizzlies.
NEXT UP FOR THE KANGAROOS...
Will be a doubleheader matchup (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.) against the Wichita State Shockers on Wednesday, May 1 at home. Earlier in the season, the two squads were scheduled to meet on March 21, but were postponed due to inclement weather.
