LAWRENCE, Kansas – The University of Maine softball team dropped both of their games on the first day of the Jayhawk Invitational.
Game 1 - - Maine: 2 UMKC: 8
The Roos struck in their first at bat of the game. Bre Hunter did her job as a hitter and put the ball in play with a runner on third. Sydney Garcia scored on the ground out.
Once again, UMKC had a runner on third with less than two outs. Margan Rollow received the sign from her coach and executed a perfect bunt. Hunter crossed home to give her squad an early 2-0 lead.
In the bottom half of the fourth inning, Maine tied the score.
Hailey Perry led of the inning with a home run, her second of the year.
Maddie Decker doubled after the solo blast.
Brianna Neely, who pinch ran for Decker, would come around to score on a
Kelby Drews sacrifice later in the inning.
Alexis Kump reached on an error to start off the top of the fifth inning. After reaching second base on a ground out, Kump rounded the bases to grab the lead back for UMKC when Garcia's groundball reached the outfield after another Maine error.
With Faith Willis on first base after she walked, Garcia sent a home run over the left field fence. The Roos would add three more runs on Madason Shaw's three run home run. There were the final runs of the game as UMKC held onto their 8-2 lead to knock off the Black Bears.
Notes:
Game 2 - - Maine: 4 Kansas: 6
Hailey Perry continued her successful day at the plate with a walk in the second. The sophomore worked her way to third before
Keely Clark stepped into the box. Clark lifted a sacrifice fly to center which scored Perry.
The very next inning,
Brianna Neely worked a walk to lead off the third. The freshman stole second base on the first pitch thrown to
Grace McGouldrick. After the steal, McGouldrick lined a double to the left field wall. After their half of the third inning, Maine held a 2-0 lead.
Kansas scored two runs in the bottom of third inning. Three hits and one error helped the Jayhawks tie the game at two runs apiece. Sydnee Ramsey and Madison Sykes had the RBI singles in the inning.
After losing the lead, Maine grabbed it back in the top of the fourth.
Keely Clark scored on a
Laurine German single. Clark had reached earlier on a four-pitch walk.
The lead was once again short lived. Kansas responded with three runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Cheyenne Hornbuckle singled and scored Sam Dellinger, while Ramsey ripped a line drive that scored two for the Jayhawks. Maine trailed 5-3 after four complete.
Rebecca Findley, who came into the game for
Alyssa Derrick, singled to left field. On the base hit,
Kelby Drews scored and pulled the Black Bears to within one run.
Hornbuckle launched a home run in the bottom of the 6th inning. It gave her squad a two run cushion they would not give up.
In the top of the seventh, Maine threatened with runners in scoring position but were unable to push across the game tying runs. The Black Bears dropped game two of the day, 4-6.
Notes:
Next: Maine returns to the diamond tomorrow, March 9th at 11:00 AM EST when they take on UMKC in day two of the Jayhawk Invitational.
-UMaine-
