Kansas City
Loyola Marymount
Loyola Marymount Edges Kansas City
3/26/2014 12:51:00 AM | Softball
(Los Angeles, Calif.) – Kansas City found itself on the wrong end of a drama-filled two-game sweep on Tuesday, as Loyola Marymount took a pair of one-run games from the visitors, including an eight-inning walk-off victory in game one.
The Lions jumped out to a four-run lead after a solo homerun in the first inning, and a three-run shot in the third inning.
“We didn't get off to the start that we would've liked,” said head coach Meredith Smith Neal. “It makes it tough on hitters when you fall behind by four runs, but the girls responded and battled back the way you want them to.”
The 'Roos cut into the margin in the top of the fourth when Caitlin Christopher and Aly Zembruski put together back-to-back two-out hits. Christopher singled into left field and scored from first one batter later on the Zembruski double into the right-centerfield gap.
Kansas City got two more runs back in the fifth inning after Kristi Lee led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Lee advanced to third base on a Bri Wyatt single, and Cinda Ramos plated her with an RBI double over the head of the centerfielder. Two batters later, Katie Kelley allowed Wyatt to score with a perfectly-timed safety squeeze and it was 4-3, LMU.
The 'Roos were able to tie the game in the visitor's half of the sixth inning after a fielder's choice by Zembruski and a single by Alex Gale put runners at the corners with one down. Two batters later, Wyatt slapped a ground ball back toward the circle that was mishandled by the pitcher, initially. Pressed by Wyatt's speed, the LMU hurler rushed the throw to first, missing wide, and allowing Zembruski to score as Wyatt reached safely.
After Kansas City came up empty handed in the seventh and eighth innings, Loyola Marymount earned the first of two walk-off wins in the home half of the eighth, plating the ITB runner at second base with a single back through the middle.
Ramos (4-8) threw 7.1 innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out six. Christopher was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, and a run scored.
The Lions took game two with more theatrics, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for a come-from-behind 6-5 victory in a game otherwise controlled by the 'Roos.
Kansas City took the lead in the top of the second inning after Katie Kelley and Alex Friloux started the inning with a single and a double, respectively. Abby Warkentine, running for Kelley, scored two batters later on a Zembruski sacrifice fly.
The 'Roos added to their advantage in the top of the third after Ramos singled to put a runner aboard for Marlee Maples. Maples jumped on a 1-1 pitch, blasting a two-run homerun to deep left field to extend the Kansas City advantage to 3-0.
Loyola Marymount responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to trim the UMKC lead to just one run, but the 'Roos added insurance in the sixth and seventh innings with a run in each frame.
In the sixth, Kelley helped her own cause by leading off the inning with a moonshot solo homerun to left field. One inning later, Maples struck again, roping a laser off of the centerfield wall for an RBI double that plated Bri Wyatt, and Kansas City led 5-2.
“It was encouraging to see the persistency. Our hitters did a great job making adjustments,” said Smith Neal. “Katie (Kelley) and Marlee (Maples) really stepped up and had a great day.”
The wheels came off in the bottom of the seventh inning, however, as the Lions capitalized on a pair of doubles and a fielding error to score four runs on four hits, including a pair on the game's final play, to stun the 'Roos, 6-5.
“We have to be able to close,” said Smith Neal. “This is a great lesson to learn before conference play starts. We will use it to spring board us into the weekend.”
Kelley (5-8) tossed 6.2 innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out two batters. Kelley and Maples combined to go 6-for-7 at the plate, with two homeruns, two doubles, and four RBI.
Kansas City will return to Smith Field on the campus of Loyola Marymount at 2 p.m. (CST) on Wednesday to face Hawaii, before heading to Phoenix, Ariz., for the team's WAC opener.
