North Dakota State, IPFW Advance to Championship Game
Summit Points Blog | 30th Anniversary Season | Softball Championship Web site
(4) UMKC 10, (3) Southern Utah 0 (5 inn.)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - No. 4 UMKC shutout out No. 3 Southern Utah, 10-0 in five innings in the first elimination game on Friday afternoon at the Missouri 3&2 Field.
The Kangaroos broke open the game in the first inning scoring four runs on three hits. Kaelene Curry led-off the game with a bunt single, followed by Kelly Fischer drawing a walk. Megan Ussary laid down a sacrifice bunt putting runners on second and third. Back-to-back sacrifice squeeze bunts by Caitlin Christopher and Chelsea Hartwig allowed two runs to score for the Kangaroos. Marlee Maples then singled through the right side of the field to load the bases. Anna Sokolik followed that up with a long fly ball to right field to score pinch runner Tara Wolf. With two outs and runners on the corners, Megan Vicino kept the UMKC alive and drove home the final run of the inning with a single up the middle, giving the Kangaroos a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, Tessa Loewen led-off with a single through the left single of the infield but UMKC ended the inning before SUU could score.
With one out in the top of the second, the UMKC offense was able to put together consecutive hits, a bunt single by Fischer and double to center field by Ussary, but was kept scoreless in the inning.
Southern Utah went down in order in the second, third and fourth inning, but UMKC was able to push across runs two more runs in third and four more in the fourth.
In the top of the third Maples reached on a SUU error before a Sokolik single up the middle drove her home. Later a one-out single by Curry scored Sokolik, making it a 6-0 game.
The Kangaroos opened the fourth inning with two straight singles from Ussary and Christopher, followed by a double steal to put runners on second and third. Hartwig drove Ussary home on fielder's choice and put runners on first and third before a Maples single through the left side gave UMKC another run. The Kangaroos scored their final two runs of the game off of a Vicino fielder's choice, making it a 10-0 game.
In the bottom of the fifth, SUU's Haylee Hoch led-off with a single to left center and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Katie Olinger then drew a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs, but UMKC was able to retire the next three batters and end the game.
UMKC's Deanne Friese (13-15) earned her 13th win of the season, striking out six and giving up three walks and two hits.
Heather Black picked up the loss and ends the season with a record of 19-16.
The Kangaroos had three players with two hits. Leading the way was Maples hitting 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a RBI, while Ussary went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored and Curry was 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored.
UMKC takes on the loser of the winner's bracket game between top-seeded North Dakota State and No. 2 IPFW, tonight at 6 p.m. at the Missouri 3&2 Field.
Southern Utah ends its final season in The Summit League with a record of 29-25.
For more information, visit www.umkckangaroos.com and www.suutbirds.com.
(1) North Dakota State 2, (2) IPFW 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Top-seeded North Dakota State advanced to its fourth-straight league championship game by defeating No. 2 IPFW, 2-1 Friday afternoon at Missouri 3&2 Field.
IPFW struck first the top of the second as Dani Pugh blasted a homer over the left field fence, giving the Mastodons an early 1-0 lead.
The Mastodons threatened again in the fourth inning after Ashleigh Bousquet led-off with a single through the right side. Alex Bousquet then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Ashleigh into scoring position but NDSU ended the inning before IPFW could score.
The Bison offense finally got started in the bottom of the fourth as Cristina Borek doubled down the right field line. A fly ball to center field by Amanda Grable allowed pinch runner Presley Glaser to advance to third before a sacrifice fly by Konz to left field drove home Glaser and tied the game up, 1-1. With two outs, Alex Sobrero kept NDSU alive with an infield single and advanced to second on a UMKC throwing error. A bunt single from Brandi Enriquez moved Sobrero to third and another UMKC throwing error allowed her to score, giving NDSU its first lead of the game, 2-1.
Both teams recorded a lead-off single in the sixth but neither were able to score, keeping it a one-run game, 2-1 heading into the seventh inning.
With one out in the seventh, IPFW put the tying run in scoring position as Mackenzie Ritsema doubled to right field. A Kayti Hanson ground out to second base moved Ritsema to third, but NDSU got the final out to end the game and earn a spot in the league championship game.
Krista Menke (24-10) earned the complete game win, striking out eight, while yielding five hits, four walks and one earned run.
Courtney Cronin (18-3) picked up the loss with two strikeouts and giving up four hits, three walks and one earned run.
The Bison will look to win their fourth-straight Summit League Tournament as they take on No. 2 IPFW in the championship game Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Missouri 3&2 Field.
For more information, visit www.gobison.com and www.gomastodons.com.
(2) IPFW 9, (4) UMKC 0 (6 inn.)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - No. 2 IPFW claimed the final spot in the league championship game, after shutting out No. 4 UMKC, 9-0 in six innings in the second elimination on Friday night at the Missouri 3&2 Field.
The Mastodon offense picked up right where it left off in its earlier game against North Dakota State, as IPFW out hit UMKC 10-3, including two extra-base hits.
IPFW got on score board first after Courtney Cronin earned a bases-loaded walk to push across Larissa Franklin, giving the Mastodons an early 1-0 lead.
The Mastodons struck again in the second inning, rallying with two outs to record three runs on three hits. With two outs, Larissa Franklin got the offense started with an infield single before Brittany Kachur doubled to center field driving home Franklin making it a 2-0 game. Alex Bousquet then cleared the bases with a two-run homer to right field giving the Mastodons a 4-0 lead.
The UMKC offense tallied two of its three hits in the bottom of the third on back-to-back two-out singles from Kaelene Curry and Kelly Fischer, but was able to end the inning and keep the Kangaroos scoreless.
The Mastodons put together their final offensive push in the sixth inning scoring five runs on five hits and an UMKC error. Mackenzie Ritsema recorded a bunt single followed by another single by Audrey Mintari and an UMKC error which allowed Ritsema to score. A Kayti Hanson walk and single by Franklin loaded the bases before Kachur singled to center and drove home Mintari. Alex Bousquet kept the rally going as she singled up the middle pushing across two more runs. Two batters later with the bases loaded Dani Pugh was hit by a pitch bringing home the final run of the inning and eventually the game, giving IPFW a 9-0 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Curry led-off with a bunt single and advanced to second on an IPFW throwing error and eventually moved to third on a wild pitch. Fischer earned a walk to put runners on the corners, but IPFW was able to retire the next three batters to end the inning and the game.
IPFW's Miranda Kramer (15-4) picked up the win with six strikeouts, while giving up two hits and a walk.
Curry led the UMKC offense going a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate, while Deanne Friese took the loss and ended the season with a record of 13-16.
The Mastodons had four players record multi-hit games as Alex Bousquet lead the way going 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored. Franklin, Kachur and Mintari also tallied two hits apiece.
IPFW will make its second championship game appearance and face top-seeded North Dakota State on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Missouri 3&2 Field.
UMKC ends the season with an overall record of 27-30.
For more information, visit www.gomastodons.com and www.umkckangaroos.com.
