Kansas City
Arkansas
Razorbacks Snap Kansas City?s Streak with the Long Ball
3/27/2013 8:07:00 PM | Softball
(Fayetteville, Ark.) – Wednesday evening, the Kansas City Kangaroos (11-13) saw their four-game winning streak come to a sudden halt with the Arkansas Razorbacks (22-13, 0-6 SEC) controlling the contest from the start to get a 9-1 victory in five innings.
To open the game, Arkansas' Clarisa Navarro (2) hit a two-run homer to left off pitcher Deanna Friese (7-6) in the first inning. Although, Friese bounced back later in the frame by recording two strikeouts to keep it a 2-0 ball game.
Two innings later with two on for the Razorbacks, same score, designated player Nicole Schroeder RBI-singled to right center as a runner from second scored to increase the lead to three. Arkansas continued its scoring output in the third when infielder Chloe Oprzedek connected on a RBI-single of her own, driving in two runs to make it a 5-0 contest.
To lead off the fourth, UMKC registered its first hit of the game with outfielder Brooke Parker reaching base on an infield single. Next up, infielder Liz Broyles flew out to right, while Parker was tagged up at first for a double play.
Then, ensuing batter Marlee Maples singled up the middle for Kansas City's second hit of the game. With UMKC's offense starting to show signs of life, the Razorbacks ended the inning with a spectacular catch by Navarro in foul territory along the third baseline fence.
As for Arkansas in the fourth, its offense stayed hot, beginning with a lead-off solo homer by catcher Jayme Gee (5) to increase the Razorbacks' lead to six. After UMKC retired the next two batters, outfielder Stephanie Canfield kept the inning alive with a double to left. Next up, Navarro (3) connected for her second two-run shot of the game, followed by Nicole Schroeder (7) belting one deep to right field to make it a 9-0 ball game.
Despite the large deficit, the Kangaroos did not go down without a fight, as Caitlin Christopher (2) hit a home run for the second consecutive game to cut Arkansas' lead to eight with one out. Unfortunately, the Razorbacks retired the next two UMKC batters to end the game.
Coming up, the Blue & Gold will face a quick turnaround as they will take on the Saint Louis Billikens tomorrow at 4 p.m.
