Kansas City
Iowa State
?Roos Hang Tough on the Road, But Iowa State Takes Doubleheader
4/29/2013 9:44:00 PM | Softball
(Ames, Iowa.) – Monday afternoon, the Kansas City Kangaroos (16-24, 5-6 SL) completed their hectic schedule of five games in three days on the road by falling 10-4 and 7-4 to the Iowa State Cyclones (21-29, 4-11 SL).
With these losses, Kansas City will head into its season finale series at home this weekend against league foe South Dakota State on a season long seven-game skid.
In game one, with the Kangaroos already leading 1-0 after outfielder Brooke Parker capitalized on an Iowa State error to score from third, Iowa State battled back in the second to score three runs by way of infielder Aly Cappaert driving in a run with a double, followed by infielder Maddie Reese (3) blasting a two-run bomb off UMKC's Deanna Friese (11-11).
Two innings later, Kansas City answered and tied the game when catcher Alexandra Friloux grounded out to pitcher Tori Torrescano (11-12), but not before pinch runner Kristi Lee scored from third. Next up, infielder Maddie Garton drove in infielder Chelsea Hartwig, who doubled earlier in the inning, with a single to right field.
However, the Cyclones made it a 4-3 ball game when outfielder Sarah Hawryluk grounded out to Friese in the circle, but not before a runner scored from third.
Yet, UMKC continued to fight as it tied the game once again in the fifth when Hartwig RBI-singled to right field as Parker came into score for a second time. During the sequence, however, infielder Marlee Maples was thrown out at third to end the inning.
Heading into the bottom of the sixth, the game remained knotted at four. Although, Iowa State's offense caught fire during the frame by scoring six runs, headlined by a leadoff home run from Cappaert (4) and a grand slam by infielder Lexi Slander (5).
In hopes of a rally in the seventh, the Kangaroos were retired in order as Iowa State came away with the win.
Despite the loss, Kansas City tallied eight hits, led by Parker, Hartwig and Garton all totaling two each, while Parker also scored twice.
Meanwhile, game two remained scoreless until the Cyclones scored twice in the third by way of a Hawryluk RBI-singled and outfielder Brittany Gomez scoring from third after an error by the Kangaroos.
As the game continued, Kansas City managed to cut the deficit in half with the bases loaded and one out during the fifth inning when pinch hitter Kelsey Dean was dinged by Iowa State's Taylor Smith (8-9) as Garton scored. However, the Kangaroos could not breakthrough with the bases still loaded as Iowa State retired the next two batters to end the inning.
Despite the Kangaroos cutting into Iowa State's lead, the Cyclones made it a 4-1 ball game when Cappaert (5) hit her second home run of the day, this time off UMKC's Cinda Ramos (4-12).
But, similar to game one, Kansas City showed some resiliency during the sixth with two outs when outfielder Bri Wyatt tripled and later scored after an error by Iowa State as two runners touched home plate earlier in the sequence to tie the game at four.
Unfortunately for the Kangaroos, similar to game one as well, Iowa State regained the lead later in the frame and never looked back as Slater drove in three runs with a double to center field to make it a 7-4 ball game.
Down to its last three outs, Kansas City grounded out three consecutive times to end the game.
Offensively, both teams managed nine hits, while Wyatt's 3-for-3 performance at the plate, along with two RBI, a stolen base and a run scored led the way for the Kangaroos.
