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Kansas City
Northern Iowa
?Roos Tally Season-High 13 Hits Against WIU to Earn Split on Day Two in Lawrence
3/11/2016 11:27:00 PM | Softball
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The UMKC softball team used the momentum of a late inning comeback that fell just short against Northern Iowa to tally a season-high 13 hits, including three from senior Brook Parker and home runs from Katie Kelley and Kendra Leach, to beat Western Illinois and earn a split on day two of the Jayhawk Invitational in Lawrence, Kansas.
Northern Iowa (17-6) jumped ahead early in UMKC's (6-11) first game of the day, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning off sophomore pitcher Amber Grove (4-4).
With two on after a leadoff single and a hit batter, UNI hit a one-out single to drive in one runner, and following an infield single, a double to left center scored two more to runs. A wild pitch brought in run number four, and an illegal pitch set the score after one frame, 5-0.
The 'Roos got one run back in the second, taking advantage of a Panther error allowing Bri Sims (1-for-3) on board. Parker (3-for-3) hit a single to center field, scoring Sims from second, to bring UMKC closer, 5-1.
The Panthers countered UMKC by scoring two more runs in the bottom of the second, forcing head coach Meredith Smith Neal to make a change and put Kelley in the circle with two outs. Kelley recorded the final out of the inning, but not before the damage had been done, and UNI went up by six.
Another Panther run in the fourth looked to put the 'Roos away, but the Blue and Gold had other plans, and went on a day-changing rally to give UNI a scare and put some momentum back in the UMKC dugout.
A triple from Parker drove home a run, and a single from Kelley with two on drove in another UMKC run. Kelsey Goodwin (0-for-3) worked a walk to load the bases for Leach (2-for-4), who smacked a single to center driving in two more 'Roos.
Sims capped the five-run inning with an RBI single to left field, bringing UMKC within two, and a zero on the board from Kelley in the circle gave the 'Roos one last chance to get even with the Panthers.
Kelsey Volle (0-for-1) led off the top half of the seventh with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Parker stayed perfect at the plate and garnered a walk to force UNI to make a pitching change.
The pitching change paid dividends for the Panthers as they got Alex Gale (0-for-3) to ground into a double play.
With a runner at third and two outs, Kelley stepped to the plate with a chance to keep the inning going, but a hard-hit grounder to third was played well and the hopes of a comeback came to a close, with the Panthers taking the game 8-6.
Although the rally fell short, it gave the 'Roos a boost of confidence and it showed early in game two against Western Illinois (6-13).
Failing to extend the game against UNI, Kelley (2-for-4) avenged the ground out with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first to spark a fire, and give UMKC an immediate lead, one they would never look back from.
Redshirt freshman Rachel Pate (2-for-3) followed Kelley with a walk, and Leach (2-for-4) added to the UMKC lead with her second home run of the year, making the score 3-0.
WIU quickly answered back, scoring two runs off Kelley (1-6) in the top of the second, but it didn't faze the 'Roos as they went on to score four runs in the bottom half of the inning, thanks to hits from freshman Morgan Byrn (2-for-4) and Volle (1-for-2) that drove in two run a piece.
UMKC was unable to push another run across the plate after the second, but they wouldn't need it, as Kelley shut down the Leatherneck bats, pitching a complete game, allowing just four hits in her first victory of the season.
Despite not scoring more runs, the bats didn't slow down much for UMKC, as Parker (3-for-3) capped her day perfect at the plate to seemingly get her out of a bit of a slump. In all, five 'Roos recorded a multi-hit game against WIU in the 7-2 win.
The 'Roos are slated to play Omaha on Saturday, March 12 at 7 p.m., but rain is forecasted for the Lawrence area, so fans are advised to check UMKCKangaroos.com and follow @KCRoos_Softball to stay up-to-date on weather updates.
