?Roos Set to Closeout Regular Season at Western Illinois in Hopes of a League Tournament Berth
5/4/2012 10:00:00 AM | Softball
Currently, the Kangaroos sit sixth in the league standings behind South Dakota (16-36, 12-9 SL), the Leathernecks, Southern Utah (28-21, 14-7 SL), IPFW (39-12, 14-7 SL), and North Dakota State (32-18, 16-5 SL).
Despite South Dakota being ahead UMKC, the Coyotes are ineligible to compete in the league tournament due to this being their inaugural season in The Summit League.
To guarantee a spot, UMKC would have to sweep the Leathernecks, but a loss would eliminate the Kangaroos from competing in the league tournament.
THE OPPONENT
» Western Illinois Leathernecks (23-25, 13-8 Summit as of May 4)
Heading into the final weekend of the season, Western Illinois has dropped nine of its last 10, including sweeps at the hands of IPFW (April 21-22) and South Dakota (April 28-29).
As a team, the Leathernecks are hitting .273 this season led by infielder/outfielder Sammy Marshall at .420 with 55 hits and 38 runs along with a team-high 45 stolen bases. Behind Marshall, infielder Jamie Gross is hitting .358 with 54 hits to lead the team in RBI (45) and triples (3), while tied with outfielder Ashley Campbell for the leader in homeruns (6).
In the circle, pitcher Hailey Bickford (9-11) holds a team-best 2.83 ERA, two shutouts, and three saves in 36 appearances this season. Also, Bickford is tied for the team leader in strikeouts (85) with Kelsey Michelini (12-11) as she holds a 3.58 ERA, while recording two shutouts and one save in 37 appearances.
» The Head Coach: The three-time Summit League Coach of the Year, Holly Van Vlymen, is in her seventh season at the helm. During her tenure, Van Vlymen has led the Leathernecks to the school's first NCAA Tournament win, a Summit League Tournament Title, and three regular-season league titles.
» The Series: UMKC is 16-47 all-time against the Leathernecks. Last season, the Kangaroos took two out of three from Western Illinois on April 2-3.
LAST TIME OUT...
The Blue & Gold split a doubleheader with Wichita State, 4-1 and 3-2, to close out its regular season home schedule.
In game one, the Kangaroos took an early 1-0 in the second when outfielder Megan Vicino singled to short as pinch runner Bri Wyatt scored from third.
Later in the fourth with UMKC leading 2-0, infielder Danielle Bennefeld RBI-singled to right as Vicino and outfielder Anna Sokolik scored to make it a 4-0 ball game.
In the seventh, Wichita State led off the inning with two singles, followed by pitcher Cinda Ramos (11-13) hitting infielder Erin Carney to load the bases. Next up, infielder Melanie Jaegers flew out to left, but outfielder Sydney Stuever tagged up from third to cut the deficit to three.
Later in the inning with two outs and two on, same score, Ramos walked pinch hitter Holly Eckert to load the bases. But, the Olathe, Kan. native answered by forcing infielder Layne Greenlee to ground out to third to end the game.
As for game two, it headed into extra headings with the score tied at one.
In the eighth with a runner placed at second, Wichita State's Danika Miller laid down a bunt towards third, but a throwing error by UMKC resulted in the runner scoring and Miller advancing to second on the throw to home. The Shockers would later extend its lead to two when infielder Erin Carney tripled to center to bring Miller from second.
In hopes of a rally with Wyatt placed at second, infielder Kaelene Curry led off the inning by flying out to catcher Brianne Bond in foul territory. Next up after Wyatt advanced to third on a passed-ball, new pitcher Sloan Anderson (3) walked infielder Kelly Fischer to put runners at the corners.
Then, designated player Chelsea Hartwig grounded out to second to drive in Wyatt as infielder Kelly Fischer moved to third. Down to its last out, infielder Megan Ussary went down swinging to end the game.
Despite going 1-1 on the day, Ramos started both games while allowing nine hits and two earned runs to go along with two strikeouts and three walks.
MOVING UP THE SINGLE-SEASON AND ALL-TIME CAREER LIST
On Wednesday, six Kangaroo student-athletes moved up the all-time single-season and career list's in numerous categories.
Single-season wise, Curry moved into a four-way tie for the eighth most runs (28), while Fischer tied Curry for the fourth most walks (23). In the circle, Ramos is now 10th in innings pitched (160.1) and in a four-way tie for most wins (11).
On the all-time career list, Curry is now sixth in at-bats (616) as Sokolik tied Ussary for the sixth most runs (74). Also, Ussary is now fourth in stolen bases (33), while outfielder Ashley Whiteside is now in a three-way tie for the seventh most stolen bases (29) as Fischer is now seventh in assists (253).
THROUGH 51 GAMES IN 2011...
The 'Roos were 18-5 in the Summit League and 36-15 overall coming off a 1-0 loss to Southern Utah on May 12 in the first game of The Summit League tournament.
Currently, the Blue & Gold are 23-28 (10-11 SL) heading into its weekend series with Western Illinois.
