?Roos Headed for the Lonestar State
2/20/2014 4:30:00 PM | Softball
'Roos Headed for the Lonestar State
UTA HILTON INVITATIONALDate(s): Feb. 21-23
Site: Arlington, Texas / Allen Saxe Field
Live Stats: GameChanger.IO
Twitter: @KCRoos_Softball
(Kansas City, Mo.) – For the second weekend in a row, Kansas City flashed brilliance in all phases at the Arkansas Invitational.
The 'Roos got two complete games from Katie Kelley, a clutch relief appearance from Cinda Ramos, and a tournament-best nine runs driven in by clean-up hitter Caitlin Christopher. Additionally, two key components, third baseman Marlee Maples and catcher Alex Friloux, had breakout performances at the plate, each hitting .400 over five games.
All told, UMKC had five players – Maples, Friloux, Bri Wyatt, Cinda Ramos and Aly Zembruski – hit north of .300, and seven hitters with an on base percentage of .333 or better.
Next up for the 'Roos is a trip to Arlington, Texas, for the UTA Hilton Invitational. It will be the team's second appearance in the state of Texas in as many seasons.
THE VENUEAllan Saxe Field is home to UT-Arlington Maverick softball. The complex was originally built in 1974 as Arlington Athletic Center and renovated in 1993.
Like its neighboring facility, the softball field is named in honor of Dr. Allan Saxe. With bleacher seating for over 250 fans, Allan Saxe Field offers fans the opportunity to watch the team up close to the action in an intimate setting.
The facility features a press box with seating for media and sports information personnel, a sound system for music and public address announcements, a concession stand and restroom facilities.
On the field, players from each team enjoy spacious, covered dugouts and a well-manicured field. Batting cages and twin-mound bullpens will also be available. Lights make night games possible and a 10-inning scoreboard sits beyond the outfield fence, which stands 10 feet high.
THE OPPONENTSIllinois opened the 2014 season with eight consecutive victories, sweeping the Rosemont Rumble in Rosemont, Ill., and dropping Wright State, Pittsburgh, and Binghamton by a combined score of 25-2 in its first three games of the South Florida Tournament. The Illini encountered rougher waters thereafter, losing to top-ranked Tennessee 10-0 before bowing out to the host Bulls 2-1.
Through 10 games, Illinois has been led offensively by catcher Jenna Mychko and first baseman Remeny Perez. Mychko has compiled an on-base percentage of .586, reaching eight times via walk or hit batsman, and batting .429. Perez has provided the power and run production for the Illini, hitting .393 with two homeruns and 12 RBI.
In the circle, Illinois is paced by freshman Brandi Needham. Needham has posted a 5-1 record, three complete games, and an ERA of just 1.02 through six appearances.
Texas Tech and Kansas City will meet for the seventh time in two seasons on Friday. The 'Roos will have faced no other opponent as many times since the beginning of the 2013 season, due, in large part, to the program's recent move to the Western Athletic Conference.
The most recent encounter was just two weeks ago at the Lion Classic in Hammond, La., a game won by the Red Raiders 13-5 on the strength of an eight-run third inning.
Texas Tech is 6-4 on the season after taking of three-of-five at the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M. The team is led, offensively, by newcomers Sydni Emanuel and Lea Hopson. Emanuel, a freshman, boasts an on-base percentage of .564, batting .485 with six walks and six RBI. Hopson, a junior college transfer from Southern Idaho, leads the team with four homeruns and 10 RBI, while hitting .400.
Senior Brittany Talley has been dominant in the circle, posting a 3-0 mark and a 0.63 ERA through 22.1 innings of work.
UT-Arlington is off to a 6-4 start after going 3-2 at the UTA Maverick Invitational a week ago.
The firestarter for Mavericks has been third baseman Meagan Michele. The junior from Grand Prairie, Texas, leads the team in batting (.345), slugging (.517), and on-base percentage (.474).
The ace in the circle for UTA, thus far, has been sophomore Shannon Carrico. The Texas Tech-transfer is 4-1 with a 3.72 ERA and three complete games in six starts.
THE COACHESNow in her eighth season as the head coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, head coach Meredith Smith Neal has transformed the UMKC softball program into a formidable contender in the Western Athletic Conference and beyond, becoming one of sport's up-and-comers in the process.
Under Smith Neal, Kansas City clinched its third consecutive postseason appearance in 2013, qualifying for The Summit League Tournament with a 6-7 conference record.
In 2008, UMKC finished with an 8-31 overall record, doubling its win total from 2007 despite fielding a team with nine freshmen. The .205 winning percentage was the program's best since 2003, and the modest improvement was the start of a four-year run of increased victory totals.
Smith Neal stands as the program's all-time winningest coach with an overall record of 137-210 (.395).
Over the past 14 years under Terri Sullivan, Illinois has a 448-316-2 record and has finished in the top half of the Big Ten eight times, including earning second place in 2004 and 2010.
The Illini have 38 wins over ranked teams in that span, including a victory over No. 6 UCLA on Feb. 16, 2008. Sullivan has also led Illinois to four NCAA Tournament appearances, coached three different Illini to four All-America honors and had Illini players earn 41 All-Big Ten accolades.
Already the winningest coach in program history, Lubbock-native Shanon Hays enters his fifth season in the Red Raider dugout where he has led Texas Tech to four straight 30-win seasons and three trips to an NCAA Regional.
Since inheriting a program that was only 15-42 the year prior to his arrival, Tech has gone 151-77 under Hays, a .668 winning percentage that is among the best records nationally over the past four years.
Former All-American and two-time national champion Kristie Fox took over at UT-Arlington after spending the previous three years as an assistant coach at Texas Tech.
Fox compiled an overall record of 25-28 in her first year at the helm, leading the Mavericks to the Western Athletic Conference tournament with an 8-13 league record.
Originally from San Diego, Calif., she is a former member of the USA Elite Team and earned a gold medal in the College World Games in Taiwan with Team USA in 2006.
LEADING THE WACThrough the first two weeks of the season, UMKC has announced its presence in the WAC rather emphatically.
Three of the league's top four run producers – Caitlin Christopher (13 RBI), Katie Kelley (12), and Marlee Maples (10) – are 'Roos. Brooke Parker's 10 steals lead the league by a wide margin, and Kelley's 2.88 ERA is the second-lowest in the conference.
Kelley's 23 strikeouts lead the league and pace a pitching staff that leads the WAC in earned runs allowed (48) and strikeouts per game (6.62). Kelley and Cinda Ramos have also combined for the most strikeouts (35) of any WAC pitching tandem.
UP NEXTKansas City will take part in the All-Missouri Cancer Classic, hosted by Southeast Missouri, March 1-2, in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
