Kansas City
Bakersfield
'Roos' Record-Breaking Season Comes to a Close
5/8/2015 1:22:00 AM | Softball
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – UMKC lost to third-seeded Bakersfield in heart-breaking fashion early on Thursday and could not recover, eventually losing to Seattle 12-5 -- effectively ending the season and the careers of one of the most impactful senior classes in program history.
The 'Roos fell to CSUB 8-7 in game one, leaving the tying run just 60 feet away in the seventh inning. Cinda Ramos hit her eighth home run of the season and added to her single-season record for hits in the process but it was not enough to overcome three big innings for the 'Runners.
In game two, the 'Roos and Redhawks were knotted at two apiece into the sixth inning, but 10 runs over the final two frames were more than enough to doom UMKC.
Marlee Maples was the hitting star for the 'Roos on Thursday, going 4-for-8 with two home runs, a triple, and four RBI. In her last at-bat as a Kangaroo, she crushed a two-run shot on top of the batting cage beyond the left field fence to cut into the SU advantage – a fitting way for the senior to go out.
The end was nonetheless bitter for a group that broke virtually every program single-season offensive record, including a bevy of individual records and individual career records. The top four single-season home run totals belong to members of the 2015 squad (Katie Kelley, Maples, Caitlin Christopher and Ramos), as do the top spots for single-season hits (Ramos), RBI (Kelley), doubles (Kelley), stolen bases (Brooke Parker), and slugging (Kelley).
"In nine years, this was the most talented team I've had," said head coach Meredith Smith-Neal. "It was a challenging year, but it was the most fun I've ever had coaching. It was really the first time we've had a group of seniors like this, with this type of influence. We all appreciate the contributions that each of them made throughout their time here."
The 'Roos end the year with the second most victories (27) in program history. In 2016, the team will return a strong senior class, led by the likes of Kelley, Parker and Alexandra Friloux, as well as numerous underclassmen who proved to be difference-makers this season.
