Kangaroos take one of three in Southern Utah series

By: Elyssa Brogdon

Posted: 3/31/08

The UMKC softball team won its first Summit League game of the season 3-2 against the Southern Utah University (SUU) Thunderbirds, but lost the next two games of the series 7-6 and 8-0.

The Roos played SUU March 21-22 at the Kathryn Berg Field in Cedar City, Utah.

In the first game, the Roos got off to a slow start, but by the bottom of the fifth they managed to take the lead.

Neither team scored in the first three innings, but in the bottom of the fourth, Thunderbird freshman Darleen Fernandez slid home, giving her team a 1-0 lead.

The Roos came from behind and scored three runs of their own in the top of the fifth.

Starters freshmen short-stop Lauren Cross and right fielder Ashley Whiteside, along with junior pitcher Samantha Hurst, each scored a run for the Roos and UMKC took the lead 3-1.

SUU finished up, scoring another run in the bottom of the fifth and with no more scoring UMKC came away victorious, 3-2.

"Playing with 10 players, it's kind of hard to keep focused during a game," said UMKC head coach Meredith Smith. "So, we've implemented a new thing where they are held responsible by maybe a sprint after the game for an error. Obviously with a small team like that you can't replace players who have errors or who aren't hitting well. So we are implementing our own team system of disciplining ourselves."

In the next game UMKC jumped to an early 3-1 lead in the first inning.

Seniors first baseman Monica Canisales and second baseman Alicia Baker and sophomore center fielder Carli Slagle each scored in the top half of the first.

Southern Utah added a run of its own in the bottom half of the opening inning when senior Rodeo Carli hit a home run.

The Thunderbirds gained a significant advantage, scoring four more runs in the bottom of the second and plating another pair in the bottom of the fourth. Southern Utah led at the end of four innings 7-3.

The Kangaroos scored in the the fifth when Canisales and Baker each scored their second runs of the game. In the top of the sixth inning, Canisales scored again.

Neither team scored after the sixth and the game ended 7-6.

A day later the Roos faced Southern Utah and were shut out.

SUU scored two runs in the bottom of the second and the bottom of the fourth innings. The Thunderbirds doubled their score in the bottom of the fifth inning to win 8-0.

ebrogdon@unews.com