.png&width=40&type=webp)
Kansas City
Oklahoma
Errors Costly as ?Roos Fall to No. 13 Sooners, 8-4
3/26/2016 6:45:00 PM | Softball
Box Score
OKLAHOMA CITY – The UMKC softball senior captains did all they could to keep the team in the game on Saturday, March 26 against No. 13/14 Oklahoma, with all three recording an RBI, including two from Alexandra Friloux. The efforts from the trio wouldn't be enough, however, as the 'Roos allowed six unearned runs and ultimately fell, 8-4.
After a scoreless first inning for both teams, UMKC (8-16) went to work in the second with sophomore Ashlin O'Brien (1-for-3) leading off the inning with a single up the middle, and after freshman Morgan Byrn (0-for-2) was hit by a pitch and Friloux (1-for-2) reached on a catcher's interference, the bases were loaded for senior Brooke Parker (1-for-3). With a chance to hop out in front, Parker was rung up on a questionable third strike call to leave the bases loaded and the score tied 0-0.
Oklahoma (23-6) took advantage of two Kangaroo defensive miscues and scored four unearned runs in the bottom half of the second inning off senior pitcher Katie Kelley (2-8), with a two-out, three-run homer run and an RBI single.
The 'Roos went three up, three down in the third inning, and Kelley faced just three batters in the inning, despite hitting a batter, thanks to UMKC turning their 14th double play of the season to get out of the inning unscathed.
Sophomore Kelsey Goodwin (0-for-1) worked a one-out walk and junior Alex Gale (1-for-2) smashed a double to left-center to put two Kangaroos in scoring position for the senior captain Friloux in the fourth inning.
Playing in her first game in nearly a month, Friloux took advantage of the big opportunity and hit a frozen rope to right center, driving in both runners and cutting the OU lead in half, 4-2.
UMKC gave the two runs right back in the bottom of the fourth, committing two errors to help the cause for OU, stretching the lead back to four runs, 6-2.
The 'Roos got out of a jam in the bottom of the fifth, stranding runners at first and third and preventing the Sooners from growing their lead, but a quick top of the sixth put the OU bats back at the plate.
Head coach Meredith Smith Neal made defensive switches in the sixth inning, including bringing sophomore pitcher Amber Grove in to pitch for Kelley.
Grove induced a pop-up to the first batter she faced, but a walk and a double to right center gave OU their first earned run of the game, and a wild pitch and a two-out single up the middle increased the Sooner lead to six runs.
A walk allowed by Grove force Smith Neal to move Kelley back into the circle, and a fielder's choice put the UMKC bats back in the dugout with one more chance to get things going.
With a runner on and one out, the senior captain Parker ripped a triple, her second of the season, to bring the 'Roos a run closer, 8-3.
Fellow captain Kelley followed parker up with a double to right field to score Parker to make it 8-4, but OU struck out the next two UMKC batters to end the game.
UMKC is back in action on Friday, April 1 as they open Western Athletic Conference play with a doubleheader against Grand Canyon in Phoenix, Arizona.
