Kansas City
South Dakota State
'Roos Sweep South Dakota State
3/31/2015 7:35:00 PM | Softball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Better late – and early – than never. After building a five run lead after two innings of play, UMKC was forced to rally from a two-run deficit on the strength of late game heroics from Kelsey Leach and Alex Gale to knock off South Dakota State 8-7 in game one on Tuesday. Amber Grove handcuffed the Jackrabbits in a complete game effort that allowed the 'Roos (21-17) to take game two, 4-2, sweeping the two-game season series.
UMKC was on the board almost immediately after Cinda Ramos reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base. Caitlin Christopher drove her in with a RBI single and it was 1-0.
The 'Roos added plenty more in the home half of the second inning. Ashlin O'Brien reached with a one out single to get things started and Emily Bevan followed by blistering a two-run shot to left-centerfield to increase the margin. Two batters later, Brooke Parker reached on an error and promptly stole second to set the table for Ramos, who plated her with a two-out RBI triple. One batter later, Christopher added a run-scoring single and UMKC had what seemed to be a commanding 5-0 advantage.
The Jackrabbits would answer, however, scring two runs in the third inning, and chipping away with one run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to ultimately tie the score and send the game into extra innings. Once there, SDSU plated two more runs in the top of the eighth inning to take a 7-5 lead with seven unanswered.
Just when it looked as though the 'Roos would give one away, the freshmen had other ideas. With Kelsey Goodwin placed at second base per ITB regulations, Ashlin O'Brien was hit by a pitch bringing the tying run to the plate. Bevan, representing that run, laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Goodwin and O'Brien into scoring position with one out. One batter later, Kelsey Leach – the third consecutive freshman to bat in the inning – laced a 2 RBI triple down the right field line to tie the game.
With the winning run just 60 feet away, head coach Meredith Smith-Neal elected to use Alex Gale in a pinch hitting capacity and Gale repaid her coach's good faith with a walk-off RBI single back through the middle to complete the comeback.
Those in need of a little cardiac reprieve were in good hands for game two, as Amber Grove recovered from a two-run first innings for the Jacks to string together six consecutive scoreless innings in a complete game victory. Grove scattered seven hits, allowed just one earned run, and struck out five while walking none.
Parker was the offensive sparkplug for the 'Roos in game two, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and creating with her speed on the basepaths. She led off the first inning by turning what was very nearly a soft line out to shortstop into a double that never found the outfield grass. After advancing to third base on a fly out to centerfield, Parker scored two batters later as Katie Kelley joined Marlee Maples as one of only two Kangaroos to reach 100 career RBI.
UMKC would take the lead in the third inning after Parker and Ramos led off with a pair of singles. Kelley followed with a RBI single to left field, though Ramos was cut down at third base on the tail end of a 7-2-5 put out. The next batter, Maples, doubled to right field, and Kelley was able to score all the way from first after the relay throw was mishandled by the second baseman.
Leading 3-2 into the fifth inning, Parker and the 'Roos would add some insurance. Parker led off the inning with a single and a steal of second base. She advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored one batter later when Ramos lifted a sacrifice fly to left to set the final tally at 4-2.
UMKC will return to Missouri 3&2 Complex this weekend to face WAC foe Grand Canyon on Friday and Saturday in what will be one of only two weekend home series for the 'Roos this season.
