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UMKC Hosts CSU Bakersfield for Home-Opening Series
4/7/2016 1:37:00 PM | Softball
Game Notes
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kangaroo softball team will host CSU Bakersfield for the 2016 home-opening series, April 8 and 9 at Missouri 3&2 Field.
The 'Roos and 'Runners will play a doubleheader on Friday, April 8, with game one's first pitch set for 2 p.m., and the second slated for 4 p.m. The series finale will start at noon on Saturday, April 9.
Fan Information
The series between UMKC and CSUB will be played at Missouri 3&2 Field at 9600 Blue River Road in Kansas City, Missouri with free admission.
Fans that cannot make it to the games can follow along to live stats at UMKCKangaroos.com/LiveStats and can listen to a live audio broadcast free of charge via UMKCKangaroos.com/LiveEvents with T.J. Jackson on the call.
Base Hits
- UMKC holds an all-time record of 392-838.
- Head coach Meredith Smith Neal is the winningest coach in UMKC softball history with an all-time record of 192-291.
- The 'Roos hold a 16-16 all-time record in Western Athletic Conference regular season games.
- UMKC leads the all-time series with CSU Bakersfield 4-3.
- The 'Roos won the 2015 regular season series with the 'Runners, 2-1, with a 5-4 loss, and 12-2 & 2-1 wins in Bakersfield, but the 'Runners got the last laugh, beating the 'Roos in the opening round of the WAC Tournament, 8-7.
- Senior Katie Kelley holds the longest active hitting streak for the 'Roos at four games.
- Freshman Morgan Byrn has reached base in eight-straight games, the longest active streak for UMKC.
You've Heard this Before, Kelley Takes Home a WAC Player of the Week Honor
Senior Katie Kelley took home her third WAC Weekly award this season after being named pitcher of the week for the week of March 28-April 3. The honor marks the seventh weekly award of her career, earning four hitter of the week awards and three pitcher. Kelley went 2-0 and made pitching appearances in all three games against Grand Canyon to lead UMKC to a series win in Phoenix. In the second game of the series against the Lopes, a team that entered the week with a 42 RPI and led the WAC in nearly every offensive category, she earned a complete-game win, allowing five earned runs while striking out five. She also picked up the win in the eight-inning series finale, pitching 2.2 innings of relief without allowing an earned run.
Clutch Gene
Senior Katie Kelley is batting .467 with runners in scoring position (14-for-30), leading the 'Roos in the category this season. What's more, Kelley has stepped to the plate six times this season with the bases loaded, and has came through with a hit five times. She is 8-for-9 with a runner on third base with less than two outs, and 6-for-18 with two away.
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.
Turn Two!
The 'Roos have been put in numerous situations this year where they have needed big plays from the defense to get them out of a jam, and the defense has stepped up in major ways, turning 15 double plays. In recent history, the 'Roos turned 25 doubles plays in 2009 and 20 in 2011, both numbers that could be surpassed if the defense keeps up the pace. The 15 double plays ranks 10th in the nation in double plays per game (0.56).
Up Next
The 'Roos have a busy week ahead, playing seven games in five days. UMKC will play a doubleheader at South Dakota on Tuesday, April 12 before traveling to South Dakota State for a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 13. The 'Roos will get a day of rest on Thursday, before hosting Utah Valley for a three-game series, April 15 and 16 at Missouri 3&2 Field.
