Kansas City
Nicholls State
?Roos Get Back to .500 with Wins Over Nicholls State and Detroit to Complete the Blues City Classic
2/24/2013 3:32:00 PM | Softball
Against Nicholls State, the Kangaroos jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, beginning with infielder Liz Broyles tallying her second triple of the weekend to bring infielder Jenna Rangel all the way around from first to score. Later in the inning, with the score now 2-0, infielder Chelsea Hartwig reached on a fielder's choice and was later tagged out at second, but not before two runs scored.
Kansas City continued its offensive output in the following inning when Rangel drove in two runs with a triple of her own to make it a 6-0 ball game. Then, ensuing batter Broyles doubled to bring in Rangel for a second time to increase UMKC's lead to seven.
In the third, Kansas City's offense continued to thrive, beginning with a Hartwig single, followed by a Kelsey Dean double. Next up, catcher Alexandra Friloux connected for a base hit and advanced to third as pinch runner Bri Wyatt scored from third. But, Dean got caught in a rundown during that sequence and was eventually tagged out.
Nevertheless, Parker followed with UMKC's third triple of the game to drive in Friloux, while Rangel RBI-doubled to center bringing in Parker to give the Kangaroos a 10-0 lead.
Two innings later, with the score now 10-3, UMKC's offensive onslaught continued by adding six more runs, headlined by Maples driving in two RBI with a single, Ott bringing in a run with her second double and Hartwig connecting on a single for her third hit of the game to drive in a run.
To seal the 16-3 victory, Kansas City pitcher Deanna Friese (4-3) struck out her seventh batter of the game as she allowed four hits, one earned run and walked two.
Offensively, Kansas City tied a season-high in runs and connected on a season-high 17 hits, with five Kangaroos accumulating at least two hits.
Leading the way, Rangel nearly hit for a cycle with her 3-for-4 performance with three RBI and three runs scored, while Broyles also did the same by going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Additionally, Hartwig went 3-for-4 with two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base, whereas Ott and Kelley both went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Ott also scored twice while Kelley scored once.
Rounding out Kansas City's high-scoring outing, Maples went 1-for-3 with three RBI and a stolen base, as Parker managed to go 1-for-2 with two runs scored, two walks and an RBI.
In the next game against Detroit, the Kangaroos found themselves down 1-0 in the third until Broyles scored from third after an error by the Titans. Later in the inning, Kansas City took a 2-1 lead and did not look back when Ott RBI-single to right to drive in Maples.
In the following inning, with the bases loaded, UMKC extended its lead when Rangel reached on a fielder's choice as pinch runner Kristi Lee scored. Two batters later, after Broyles recorded a sac-fly RBI and Maples went down swinging, Ott connected for her second single of the game as two runners scored to make it a 6-1 ball game.
To secure the victory in the seventh, despite the Titans leading off the inning with a single, pitcher Cinda Ramos (2-3) and the Kansas City defense retired the next three batters to end the game.
At the plate, Ott, Kelley and catcher Caitlin Christopher each went 2-for-3, as Ott drove in three RBI. In the circle, along with allowing one earned run, Ramos' day included two strikeouts and no walks.
Coming up, the Blue & Gold will return to Missouri to take part in the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament (March 2 - 3) along with No. 7 Mizzou, Saint Louis and tournament host, Southeast Missouri State.
*Note: Senior Emily Ott, along with freshmen Katie Kelley and Liz Broyles, were named to the Blues City Classic All-Tournament Team with their stellar performances throughout Kansas City's 4-1 record throughout the weekend.
For Ott, she earned Second Team honors as she batted .400 with six hits, seven RBI and two runs scored, while Kelley managed a .438 batting average with seven, three RBI, three doubles, two runs, a walk and a home run to be named to the First Team.
In the case of Broyles, she received First Team recognition as she tallied 10 hits, drove in five runs and scored three runs to go along with two doubles and two triples for a batting average of .667.
Blues City Classic All-Tournament First Team
Belmont - Kat Holingsworth
Indiana State - Ashlie Scott
Memphis - Ellen Roberts
Memphis - Lelani Bernardino
Mississippi State - Alison Owen
Mississippi State - Sam Lenahan
Nicholls State - Ashton Bennett
Samford - Mollie Hanson
UMKC - Liz Broyles
UMKC - Katie Kelley
Wichita State - Melanie Jaegers
Blues City Classic All-Tournament Second Team
Detroit - Sara Cupp
Indiana State - Shelby Wilson
Memphis - Jordan Richwood
Mississippi State - Stephanie Becker
Nicholls State - Leah Andrus
Samford - Alex Adams
SEMO - Taylor Cowan
SIU-Edwardsville - Erin Greenwalt
UMKC - Emily Ott
Wichita State - Megan McCracken
Wright State - Krystian DeWitt
Blues City Classic Standings
1. Memphis - 3-0
2. UMKC - 4-1
T3. Samford - 3-1
T3. Mississippi State - 3-1
T3. Nicholls State - 3-1
T6. Wichita State - 2-2
T6. SIU-Edwardsville - 2-2
T8. Belmont - 1-3
T8. Indiana State - 1-3
T8. Wright State 1-3
T11. Southeast Missouri - 1-4
T11. Detroit 1-4
