Kansas City
Utah Valley
?Roos Plate 28 Runs, Hammer Utah Valley
4/24/2015 8:39:00 PM | Softball
OREM, Utah – UMKC began its last conference series of the regular season on Friday, just two weeks in advance of the WAC Tournament in Las Cruces, N.M., and, if there were any questions regarding the offense, the 'Roos (26-24, 6-7) delivered a resounding response, hammering Utah Valley in back-to-back games, 11-7 and 17-3, respectively, setting a new program record for runs scored in a single day.
Though the margin of game one was just four, the contest, itself, was never in doubt. The 'Roos built an 11-1 lead before a six-run fifth inning ultimately summoned Cinda Ramos into the circle. Ramos stopped the bleeding, however, and UMKC cruised to victory.
Ramos, Brooke Parker, Bri Wyatt and Katie Kelley each drove in a run for the 'Roos in the game one win, but senior Caitlin Christopher was the hitting star, going 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in the fourth inning and a two-run single in the second.
UMKC really went to work in the final act of the double dip, erasing a two-run deficit with 15 runs over the course of the third and fourth innings en route to the 14-run blowout victory. The impact hitters were plentiful.
Redshirt freshman Kendra Leach, playing in just her second week back from a knee injury that sidelined her for all of 2014, doubled, walked twice, and drove in a career-best three runs. Freshman Kelsey Goodwin logged the first four-hit game of her career, doubling three times and driving in a pair of runs.
Kelley and Christopher each had two hits apiece, combined for three walks, each doubled, and Christopher scored three times. Meanwhile, senior Aly Zembruski continued her knack for late season effectiveness, enjoying one of the best games of her career with a pair of hits, a pair of runs scored, and three runs batted in.
In a season during which seemingly every offensive record has fallen, one that remains is the school's single-season hits record, which currently stands at 65. After Friday's action, however, both Ramos and Kelley sit just one hit shy of the mark.
The 'Roos and Wolverines will resume play at 1 p.m. (CST) tomorrow afternoon. The game will be available for viewing on the WAC Digital Network.
