UMKC Comes Back to Defeat North Dakota State 6-4 in 12 Innings

FARGO, N.D.--Marlee Maples hit a two-run home run in the 12th inning to complete UMKC's 6-4 comeback win over North Dakota State University in a Summit League softball game played Sunday, April 22, before 103 spectators at the Ellig Sports Complex.

Maples' home run ended the longest game played at the Ellig Sports Complex and tied the longest game in NDSU softball history.

North Dakota State (14-4 Summit, 30-17) is scheduled to play at South Dakota State (4-14 Summit, 10-25-1) on April 27-28 in Brookings. The Bison remain in first place, a game ahead of Western Illinois (13-5 Summit, 23-22) in the league standings after the Leathernecks 4-0 loss to IPFW on Sunday.

Maples hit her second home run of the season, a two-run shot, over the left field fence on a 0-1 pitch. Caitlin Christopher reached on a fielder's choice and scored.

North Dakota State's Jenina Ortega did start the bottom of the 12th inning with a single, but UMKC shortstop Kaelene Curry turned in a pair of her final 12 assists to stall the offense.

Cinda Ramos (9-11) pitched the final eight innings for UMKC (7-11 Summit, 19-25) in relief of starter Deanna Friese to record the win. Ramos retired 13 straight batters from the seventh through the 11th innings before Ortega's single in the 12th. She allowed five hits and struck out one.

The Kangaroos rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game. Danielle Benefeld's line drive double to left scored one run, while a two-base NDSU throwing error pushed across the other two runs. The Bison had three errors that lead to three unearned runs.

North Dakota State used a pair of two-out, two-run home runs to build the lead. Brea Konz stroked her fourth home run to put the Bison ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jamie Gay cracked her second home run of the season to extend the advantage to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth.

Krista Menke (20-9) worked the final 5.2 innings to pick up the loss. Menke allowed four hits, struck out four and walked one. Starter Whitney Johnson struck out seven, allowed five hits and walked two.

Anna Sokolik, Curry and Benefeld each had a pair of hits for UMKC. Gay and Ortega both finished with two hits for NDSU.