Macomb, Ill. - Fourth-seeded UMKC (17-38) pulled off its second upset in as many games on the first day of the Mid-Con Softball Tournament, outlasting No. 2 seed Oakland (30-24-1) by a 3-2 score in nine innings. The Kangaroos ended the first day of the tournament without a loss for the second straight season, giving themselves back-to-back title game appearances. Oakland jumped out in front by scoring a first-inning run when Nina Catanzaro (Shelby Twp., Mich.) tripled and scored on an Ericka Burns (Clinton, Ont.) single. The Golden Grizzlies extended their lead to 2-0 in the third when Burns doubled with two outs and scored on a Linnea Utecht (Oshkosh, Wis.) single. Utecht kept the UMKC offense at bay until the third inning, when Lindsey Bauer walked to start the frame and Jessica Clarke followed with a single. They were sacrificed up a base, and Lindsey Ramsey walked to load the bases. Kari Thurman knotted the game at 2-2 with a two-run single down the left field line, which chased Utecht from the game. Julie Anderson (Portland, Mich.) put out the fire by retiring the next two batters in relief of Utecht. The two teams battled through the next five innings without scoring a run. UMKC starter Lindsey Davis gave up two hits in the fourth but induced an inning-ending popout without allowing a run. In the sixth, UMKC put two runners on with two outs, but Oakland's Nicole Marzano (McHenry, Ill.) relieved Anderson and got out of the situation with a ground ball. Davis allowed two more runners in the seventh and a two-out double in the eighth but managed to get out of each inning without allowing a run. UMKC finally put an end to the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Brandy Tanner doubled with an out and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Oakland elected to intentionally walk the next two batters (Ramsey and Thurman) to load the bases, but Becky Burger's ground ball to shortstop brought home the winning run. Davis (13-14) earned her second win of the day by tossing all nine innings, scattering eight hits and allowing the two early runs. She walked only one and fanned four in the victory. Marzano (10-5) pitched three innings of relief, allowing three hits and the one run, but took the loss. Bauer, Ramsey, Thurman and Kristen Caldwell all had two hits each to pace the 10-hit UMKC attack. Burns was the only Oakland player to record a multi-hit game. UMKC advanced to the championship round of the 2002 Mid-Con Tournament, but lost a pair of games to Oakland on the second day of the tournament. The Golden Grizzlies are the defending league tourney champions. Oakland will now face No. 1 seed Southern Utah at 11 a.m. on Saturday for the right to face UMKC in the championship round.