KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Deanna Friese fired a one-hitter and struck out 10 batters as UMKC defeated Western Illinois, 5-0, in the rubber match of a three-game series on Sunday, April 3 at Loyola Park.
The Fighting Leathernecks (10-17, 7-5) were held without a hit until Beth Golitko laid down a bunt single to start the top of the seventh inning. Golitko was one of just five base runners allowed by Friese.
Western Illinois looked to have momentum in the first inning when Nikki Marinec singled before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch with one out.
Friese would retire the next two batters to end the threat and did not allow another runner on until issuing a two-out walk to Erin Schlotfeldt in the fourth inning.
UMKC did its job at the plate by scoring twice in the bottom of the first. The Kangaroos used back-to-back base knocks and a double steal to put runners in scoring position with one out.
An RBI groundout and a wild pitch would allow both runners to cross the plate to give UMKC the early advantage.
The Kangaroos would tack on another run in the third on an RBI single and added two more in the fourth inning on a wild pitch and an RBI single.
Marinec was hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth inning and advanced to second on Colleen Biebel's groundout to the right side. Friese would retire the next two hitters via a strikeout and a pop fly to end the inning.
Hailey Bickford sat the Kangaroos down in order in the bottom of the sixth. She allowed just one hit in 2.1 innings of relief work and struck out two batters.
Golitko would reach on the bunt single to start the final inning, but the next three hitters were retired in order as UMKC took two of three games in the series.
Kelsey Michelini (2-8) was hit with the loss after allowing five runs (two earned) on seven hits in 3.2 innings. She walked three and struck out one.
Friese (15-6) picked up her second win of the weekend by allowing just one hit while walking three and striking out 10 in the complete-game victory.
Western Illinois left five runners stranded on base and committed four errors while the Kangaroos were perfect in the field and left four runners on.
The Leathernecks will return to action against Bradley on Wednesday, April 6 before heading to IPFW for a three-game series over the weekend.
