Kansas City
Western Carolina
Friese Deals Out 11 K?s to Push ?Roos Past Western Carolina in Season Opener
2/8/2013 4:37:00 PM | Softball
To begin the game, pitcher Deanna Friese (1-0) got off to a fast start with three strikeouts, allowing no hits and walking one in the first. Later in the inning, after a two-out double by infielder Marlee Maples, outfielder Emily Ott RBI-doubled to left-center to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead. With that RBI, Ott inched closer to becoming the program's all-time leader as she now needs four to pass Amanda Rice (97).
In the third, same score, the Kangaroos found themselves in a jam with one out and runners at the corners for Western Carolina. After Friese strikeout her sixth batter and Cats outfielder Amelia Griffin stole second, infielder Shemekia Scotton doubled to right-center as both runners came into to score to give Western Carolina a 2-1 lead.
Later in the fourth after designated player Caitlin Christopher walked to leadoff the inning, followed by a Alexandra Friloux single to left, infielder Chelsea Hartwig singled to third and later advanced to third after a Western Carolina error as both runners scored. The 'Roos continued their offensive output in the fourth when infielder Brooke Parker RBI-singled to left as two runners scored to make it a 5-2 ball game.
Two innings later, same score, Kansas City found themselves in a jam once again with two runners on and one out, similar to earlier in the third. This time, however, the 'Roos defense held as Friese struck out her ninth batter and forced infielder Taylor Sigmon to fly out deep to left-center.
In the sixth, the Blue & Gold added to their lead when pinch runner Jenna Rangel scored from second after pinch hitter Katie Kelley reached first and later advanced to second on an error by the Cats.
To seal the game, Friese struck out the first and last batter of the inning as Kansas City held on the for the 6-2 victory. At game's end, the Kennesaw, Ga. native allowed six hits, walked two batters and tallied 11 strikeouts.
Offensively, the Kangaroos collected nine hits on the day, led by Hartwig's 2-for-2 performance with a run scored and a stolen base, while Parker went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Coming up, the Kangaroos will be in action twice tomorrow beginning with the North Carolina Central Eagles (0-0) at 9 a.m., followed by a matchup against USC-Upstate (0-0) at 3 p.m.
