Kansas City
Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon Hands UMKC Back-to-Back Losses
4/3/2015 9:40:00 PM | Softball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – It was just one of those days for UMKC, both at the plate and in the field, as the 'Roos (21-19, 2-3) dropped back-to-back contests to the visitors from Grand Canyon on Friday – 8-0 and 7-3, respectively.
'Lope pitcher Kailey Regester was outstanding in game one, taking a no-hit bid into the fifth inning before Alexandra Friloux broke it up with a double to left field. The play served as the lone bright spot for UMKC as Friloux, hustling out of the box, stretched what appeared to be a single into an extra base hit.
The 'Roos displayed a different sort of energy to begin game two, responding to an early deficit with a run in the bottom of the second and two more in the home half of the third. The former came as a result of an infield single by Cinda Ramos followed by a RBI single through the right side for Friloux.
Brooke Parker began the third inning with an infield hit of her own and subsequently stole second base. After a Marlee Maples walk, Parker and Maples executed a double steal to put a pair of runners in scoring position for Ramos, who plated Parker with a RBI single to left. One batter later, Caitlin Christopher laid down a well-placed safety squeeze to plate Maples and give UMKC a 3-1 lead heading into the fourth inning.
The good news ends there for 'Roos on this particular day, as Grand Canyon responded with six runs over the next four innings and effectively shut down any semblance of offense from UMKC. Pitching in relief, Taylor Nowlin picked up the victory with eight strikeouts 4.2 innings of shutout softball.
Ultimately, if GCU pitching hadn't been enough, the 'Roos' seven errors over the two-game span surely did them in – particularly considering the opponent was error-free on the day.
UMKC will look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon at noon when the 'Lopes return to Missouri 3&2 Complex for the final game of the series.
