Kansas City
Omaha
Kelley, ?Roos Split Doubleheader at Omaha
4/7/2015 10:21:00 PM | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. – After falling victim to a furious late-game rally in game one, Katie Kelley took matters into her own hands, dominating game two in the circle and at the plate to lead UMKC to an 8-0 victory and a doubleheader split with Omaha – rectifying a 7-6 loss in the first game of the day.
Kelley earned her ninth victory of the season after tossing five shutout innings, allowing just three hits, no walks, and striking out eight Mavericks. As good as she was on the slab, she may have been even better in the batter's box.
UMKC (22-21, 2-4) jumped on Omaha from the outset of game two as Alexandra Friloux and Kelley strung together a single and a double to put a pair in scoring position for Cinda Ramos, who gave the 'Roos the lead with a 2 RBI double to centerfield.
Two innings later, Brooke Parker led off the frame with a single. Friloux followed with the same result, putting two aboard for Kelley. The junior slugger delivered a three-spot with her 12th home run of the season to give UMKC a 5-0 advantage.
Kelley helped herself some more in the fourth inning following singles by Parker and Friloux, doubling home the former and moving the latter to third base for Ramos who plated her with a sacrifice fly to left field and it was 7-0, 'Roos.
Finally, Caitlin Christopher led off the top half of the fifth inning with a solo blast to left-centerfield, and UMKC had the run-rule margin at 8-0 – a tally that would stand.
The top of the UMKC batting order was instrumental in the victory, with Parker, Friloux and Kelley combining for eight of the team's 12 hits and seven of its eight runs. Kelley, for her part, finished 3-for-4 with a homer, two doubles, and four RBI.
The 'Roos appeared as though they were set for similar success in the first game of the double dip, grabbing an early 3-0 lead, and maintaining an advantage into the seventh inning, but a late rally by the Mavs doomed the visitors.
Ramos went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs batted in, while Parker added a hit, a RBI, and three runs scored. But six runs over the final three innings proved just enough, as Omaha edged UMKC, handing the 'Roos a one-run, extra-inning defeat.
UMKC will resume WAC play on Friday when the team travels to Las Cruces, N.M., to take on New Mexico State. The Aggies took three-of-four against the 'Roos last season, including the teams' final meeting at the WAC Tournament in Seattle, Wash.
