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UMKC Welcomes NM State with WAC Title on the Line
4/28/2016 1:02:00 PM | Softball
Game Notes
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The UMKC softball team, currently second in the Western Athletic Conference standings, hosts New Mexico State for a three-game series with regular season championship implications on the line.
The 'Roos (21-19, 10-2 WAC) are one game back from the WAC leader NM State (32-19, 11-1 WAC), meaning the final WAC regular season series couldn't have a bigger stage. If the 'Roos win the series, they earn at least a share of the WAC title and will be the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament May 12 and 13. If UMKC sweeps the Aggies, they would be outright regular season champions, knocking the reigning WAC champs off their throne.
Fan Information
Live stats for all three of the weekend's games can be found at UMKCKangaroos.com/LiveStats.
All three of the contests will be streamed with live audio through the UMKC athletics website at UMKCKangaroos.com/LiveEvents.
Base Hits
- UMKC holds an all-time record of 403-840.
- Head coach Meredith Smith Neal is the winningest coach in UMKC softball history with an all-time record of 203-293.
- The 'Roos are currently second in the WAC standings with a 10-2 record, behind New Mexico State at 11-1.
- UMKC is 1-11 in the all-time series against New Mexico State, with the lone win coming in 2014, a 9-5 contest in Kansas City
- Senior Katie Kelley is one hit away from moving into a tie for second-place all-time at UMKC, and 23 hits away from the school record holder Kaelene Curry (2009-12).
- Kelley has tallied 47 doubles in her career which is tied for the lead in school history.
- Senior Brooke Parker is just two runs shy of the school record for a career, she currently sits in second with 140.
Destiny Awaits
The 'Roos are 10-2 in conference play this season, and have a chance to win the second-ever conference regular season title in program history, with the only other coming in 2011. If UMKC wins the series over New Mexico State this weekend, they would at least share the regular season championship with the Aggies, but if they earn a sweep of NMSU, they would be outright champs, dethroning the Aggies who won the regular season title in 2015.
Goodwin Named WAC Hitter of the Week for First Time in Career
Sophomore Kelsey Goodwin earned her first-career WAC Player of the Week honor as she was named Hitter of the Week for April 18-24, after having a career weekend at the dish against Seattle U. Goodwin tallied four hits in the series, all extra-base knocks (three doubles and a home run), four RBIs, and one walk. Goodwin's POW nod was the fifth this season from a UMKC player.
200
Senior Katie Kelley notched her 200th-career hit in the win over Seattle U on April 23. Kelley is just the third player in school history to make it to the 200 mark in the hits column, joining Amanda Rice (201, 1999-2002) and Kaelene Curry (223, 2009-12). Also reaching a 200 milestone was head coach Meredith Smith Neal, who picked up career-win No. 200 in the series finale against Utah Valley on April 16. Smith Neal is the winningest coach in UMKC softball history.
Clutch Gene
Senior Katie Kelley is batting .463 with runners in scoring position (19-for-41), leading the 'Roos in the category this season. What's more, Kelley has stepped to the plate seven times this season with the bases loaded, and has came through with a hit six times. She is 9-for-12 (.750) with a runner on third base with less than two outs, and 10-for-25 with two outs.
Already a Regular
Freshman Morgan Byrn has made herself a regular in the lineup this season, as she is the only player on the team to start every game at the same position.
Double Down
With 10 doubles this season, senior Katie Kelley has tied Amanda Rice (1999-2002) for most career doubles in school history with 47.
Chasing the Runs Record
Senior Brooke Parker is coming closer to another UMKC record. Already the all-time steals leader at the school, Parker is just two runs shy of tying the UMKC record of 142 for a career.
Up Next
After concluding the WAC regular season slate, the 'Roos are scheduled to play five non-conference games before heading to the WAC tournament. UMKC hosts Omaha on Monday, May 2 for a doubleheader at 2 and 4 p.m., before welcoming IUPUI for a three-game weekend series, May 6 and 7 at Missouri 3&2 Field.
