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Kansas City
North Dakota State
'Roos Rally to Knock Off North Dakota State
3/21/2014 6:16:00 PM | Softball
(Kansas City, Mo.) – Kansas City scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to rally from a 3-0 deficit and defeat North Dakota State 4-3 in the team's first game of the Mizzou Tournament on Friday.
Katie Kelley earned her fifth victory of the season with a complete game effort. The Coweta, Okla., native scattered six hits over seven innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out five.
The 'Roos entered the seventh inning trailing by three runs, having mustered only three hits through the first six visiting frames, but quickly set the table with a pair of walks by Alex Friloux and Maddie Garton. After Aly Zembruski slapped a one-out single into left field, the bases were full for Kristi Lee. Lee delivered, plating Kaitlyn Carey – running for Friloux – and Garton with an RBI single down the left field line.
Bri Wyatt followed with an RBI double to right-centerfield, scoring Zembruski from second and tying to game. One batter later, Cinda Ramos connected with a deep sacrifice fly out to left field that allowed Lee to score with ease and Kansas City had its first lead of the day at 4-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, Kelley slammed the door on the Bison with a little help from the defense, as Lee made a spectacular running catch into shallow centerfield to end it.
Wyatt went 2-for-4 with an RBI from the leadoff spot for the 'Roos, while Lee and Zembruski combined to go 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and two RBI after playing pivotal roles in the seventh inning rally.
Kansas City fell behind Oklahoma State 7-0 in the night cap on Friday and was unable to recover, falling to the Cowgirls 8-2. OSU plated two in the top of the first and five in the top of the second to seize control of the game.
The 'Roos responded with two of their own in the bottom of the third after Wyatt led off the inning by reaching base with an infield hit. An errant throw allowed her to advance to second base, providing an RBI opportunity for Marlee Maples, who cashed in the run with a single to centerfield. Two batters later, Friloux smacked an RBI single into right field to plate Maples and cut into the margin.
Ramos was a bright spot for Kansas City in defeat, giving the Kangaroos 5.1 innings in relief, striking out seven while allowing two earned runs.
UMKC will return to the diamond Saturday evening for a 6:45 p.m. date with Ball State.
