The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
UMKC
Softball comes up short against UMKC in eight innings, 6-3
February 09 | Softball
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HAMMOND, La. – Taryn Allmon delivered a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game and force extra innings but Akron came up short, falling to UMKC 6-3 on the final day of the Tangi Tourism Lion Classic.
"This was a tough loss to end the weekend, but we will learn from it and get better," said head coach Julie Jones. "Overall it was a successful tournament for us, and I am confident we will continue to improve."
UA finished its season-opening tournament with a 3-2 record. Allmon and Mailloux combined for four of the Zips' five hits against UMKC, but it was not quite enough to combat the Kangaroos' three-run eighth inning.
UMKC (3-2) scored its first two batters in the top of the first to take an early 2-0 lead before MacKenzie Conrad entered the circle to relieve starter Sara Pearson. She retired the first three batters she faced and would stay in to pitch the rest of the game.
Akron threatened in the second inning with two outs on a single up the middle from Allmon. Conrad dug in and smacked a double to left center field moving Allmon over to third, but neither would score.
The Kangaroos tacked on one more run in the third inning on a wild pitch to go ahead 3-0, but UA's answer came in the bottom of the fifth. Leading off, Conrad reached safely on a dropped third strike, and would move all the way to third on a UMKC throwing error that failed to retire Lisa Lash.
Lash and Conrad executed a double steal, swiping second and home to score the Zips' first run of the day. Mailloux came to the plate with two outs, roped a single to left center field and proceeded to make her way around the bases, stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch.
Kellie Roudabaush worked a 3-1 count for a walk putting runners at the corners, and stole second as Mailloux stole home to make it a one-run game at 3-2. Chelsea Wildey and McKenzi Rhodes drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, but a UMKC pitching change was enough to cut the Zips' rally short.
Heading into the bottom of the sixth, Allmon took the first pitch she saw over the right field wall for Akron's first home run of the season, tying the score at three.
Both teams saw a quiet seventh inning, but UMKC made some noise in the top of the eighth on a two-RBI single from its starting pitcher. A sacrifice fly gave the Kangaroos a three-run advantage that Akron was unable to match in the bottom half of the inning.
UA returns to the field next weekend when it travels to Kennesaw, Ga. for the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament, Feb. 15-16. Akron will face Morehead State and Murray State on Saturday, followed by a doubleheader against Tennessee Tech and tournament host Kennesaw State on Sunday.
