Kansas City
Western Illinois
Kansas City Blanks Western, Splits Doubleheader
3/15/2014 10:25:00 PM | Softball
(Kansas City, Mo.) – Kansas City split a pair on day one of the UMKC Invitational, knocking off former conference foe Western Illinois 8-0 on the strength of a complete game shutout from Katie Kelley.
The 'Roos wasted no time in jumping on the Leatherneck pitching, plating two runs on three hits in the top of the first. After a Cinda Ramos single and a fielder's choice, Bri Wyatt was at first base with one away. Wyatt stole second base, and one pitch later, Kelley helped herself out with an RBI single to put UMKC on the board. Kelsey Volle pinch ran for Kelley and was at third base following an Alex Friloux single and a Marlee Maples walk. One batter later, Aly Zembruski drew a bases loaded walk and the 'Roos had a 2-0 lead.
Kelley, in arguably her most impressive outing of the season, had more than enough run support. She was in cruise control in the circle, striking out five batters, and allowing just one runner to reach second base.
Kansas City was back for more in the home half of the fourth, thanks to some table-setting on the parts of Brooke Parker and Ramos. Parker led off the inning with a single into left-centerfield. With Ramos at the plate, and Parker on the move, a ground ball hit into the hole was a hit all the way, putting runners at first and second with no one out. One batter later, Bri Wyatt grounded to the right side to plate Parker. Kelley would help her own cause once more just a few pitches later, cashing in Ramos with an RBI double.
With the 'Roos in control, and Kelley just three outs away from the shutout, the Kansas City offense took matters into its own hands in the home half of the sixth.
Parker led off the inning with a single through the right side. One batter later, Ramos singled to centerfield and Parker went first-to-third, forcing a throw. She was safe and Ramos, running behind the play, slid safely ahead of the throw back to second which sailed errant and allowed Parker to score all of the way from first. With Ramos at third base, Wyatt deposited another run with an RBI single. Maples reached on an error to put two aboard for Friloux, and the Hahnville (La.) High School product ended it via run-rule with a two RBI double.
Ramos, Wyatt, Kelley, Friloux, and Zembruski each drove in at least one run for Kansas City in the victory, with Kelley and Friloux combining to go 5-for-8 with four RBI.
The 'Roos ran into trouble in the day's finale versus Northern Colorado, falling behind 5-0 before a furious rally fell just short in a wild nine inning affair.
Ramos shined once again for UMKC, throwing 5.2 innings in relief, during which she allowed just four hits and no earned runs while striking out five. At the plate, the junior captain went 3-for-5, scoring a run and driving in another.
Melissa Marcovecchio put Northern Colorado on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning with a two-run homerun following an Erica Dick single. The Bears added insurance in the top of the fourth, stringing together a trio of singles and capitalizing on a couple of UMKC miscues to plate three more runs and increase the advantage to 5-0.
In the face of such a deficit, however, the 'Roos refused to go quietly. Kansas City cut into the lead in the fourth inning, adding a pair after Kelley, Maples, and Friloux put together a walk, single, and sacrifice fly, respectively. Maddie Garton followed with an RBI single two batters later and it was 5-2, Bears.
UMKC added two more in the fifth, following back-to-back infield hits for Parker and Ramos. With two on and two out, Maples crushed a double into right-centerfield to score a pair and cut the margin to just a run.
In the home half of the sixth, Kansas City manufactured the equalizer after Garton reached with a one-out walk, and scored on an error two batters later.
With the score tied 5-5, the Bears reclaimed the lead in the top of the ninth inning when Marcovecchio singled home Mikayla Duffy with two away.
In the home half, with Wyatt at second base per international tie-break rules, Friloux appeared to tie the game with an RBI triple down the right field line. However, well after the conclusion of the play, the call was overturned following a brief discussion, and Friloux was returned to the batter's box. Two pitches later, UNC pitcher Breeanna Holliday induced a groundout to end the game and earn her second victory of the season.
Maples went 2-for-4 for UMKC, driving in a pair, while Ramos added three hits to run her two-game stat line to 6-for-9 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Kansas City is slated to return to the diamond for day two of the UMKC Invitational tomorrow, weather permitting. In the event of inclement weather, alternate scheduling is under discussion.
