Kansas City
Western Illinois
?Roos Fall in Game One to Leathernecks, Bounces Back to Take Game Two in Saturday?s Doubleheader
4/13/2013 7:26:00 PM | Softball
(Kansas City, Mo.) – In Saturday afternoon's doubleheader, the Kansas City Kangaroos (13-17, 2-3 SL) settled for a split with the visiting Western Illinois Leathernecks (9-16, 3-9 SL) as UMKC suffered a 2-1 loss in game one, but battled back to take game two, 7-5.
In the opener, the Leathernecks struck first with infielder Megg Kelly driving in two runs with a single through the left side during the opening inning. However, the Kangaroos kept Western Illinois' offense under control through the next three innings by retiring nine out of 10 batters, while pitcher Deanna Friese (8-9) recorded four K's during this stretch.
As for the 'Roos at the plate, infielder Marlee Maples connected for her second double of the game as pinch runner Kelsey Dean came around to score from second to cut the deficit in half with two outs during the fourth inning. With Kansas City building momentum, ensuing batter Katie Kelley flew out to center to end the inning for the Kangaroos.
In the following inning with two outs, Western Illinois had a chance to stretch its lead after infielder Sammy Marshall raced all the way around to third for a triple to center. But, UMKC kept it a one-score game as Friese forced the next batter to fly out in foul territory to Maples at third.
With the Kangaroos still trailing 2-1 in the sixth, infielder Liz Broyles led off the inning for UMKC with a walk. Next up, however, outfielder Emily Ott seemed as if she had a base hit with a liner to short, but Marshall was there for the out and then fired it to first for the double play before Broyles got back.
After holding the Leathernecks scoreless in the seventh, Maples led off the inning with an infield single for her third hit of the game. Later in the inning, after Maples advanced to second after a sacrifice fly by Kelly, catcher Alexandra Friloux grounded out to first as Maples moved to third.
Down to its last out, pinch hitter Caitlin Christopher popped up to first to seal the victory for Western Illinois, snapping a five-game skid.
Despite suffering the loss, Friese allowed one earned run and six hits, while recording nine strikeouts and surrendering two walks. Offensively, Maples turned in a 3-for-3 performance at the plate with two doubles and a single, along with driving in UMKC's lone run.
In game two, meanwhile, Kansas City found themselves in a familiar situation after allowing two runs in the first inning, similar to game one.
In the following frame, after the Leathernecks made it a 3-0 ball with a Briana Williams RBI-doubled, UMKC cut the deficit to one when Friloux RBI-singled to center to bring in pinch runner Katie Petersen and pitcher Cinda Ramos (4-7).
Kansas City's offense continued to thrive in the third as it loaded the bases after Broyles led off with a double, Ott tallying her second single of the game and Maples reaching on a fielder's choice. After infielder Chelsea Hartwig went down swinging, Kelley grounded out to second, but not before Broyles scored to knot the game at three. Although, the Kangaroos could not break the tie when Friloux grounded out to first to end the frame, despite UMKC loading the bases again after infielder Jenna Rangel was hit by a pitch.
Two innings later, Western Illinois regained the lead to make it a 4-3 ball game when outfielder Tierney Bottino RBI-singled to left center. Yet, Kansas City answered later in the inning and would not look back by scoring five runs to take its first lead of the day with Kelley recording her second RBI of the game, Friloux driving in a run and Christopher tallying two RBI.
In the seventh, with the score now 7-5 after Marshall scored from second on error by the Kangaroos in the sixth, the Leathernecks were down to their last two outs after Ramos recorded her third strikeout of the game. Ensuing batter Teagan Walsh (2-3), meanwhile, singled to right field as the game tying run was now coming to the plate.
In an effort to secure the contest, Ramos was replaced by Friese (2) as she finished the day allowing nine hits, three earned runs and three walks, along with recording three K's. With Friese now in the game, she retired the next two batters, including outfielder Karissa Kouchis striking out swinging to seal Kansas City's second Summit League win.
At game's end, Kansas City's offensive attack managed 10 hits compared to Western Illinois' nine, led by Ott going 3-for-3. Also, having a solid game was Friloux turning in a 2-for-3 performance, to go along with three RBI and a run scored, whereas Broyles drew two walks, scored once and tallied a double.
Tomorrow, the Blue & Gold will look to take the series against Western Illinois at 11 a.m. (previous game time was 12 p.m.).
