Softball: Packard and Karnatz Shine on Day One, but Roos Fall in Both Games

Friday, February 21

Honolulu, Hawaii

7:30 PM

Kansas City

2-4

University of Iowa

9-2

Kansas City

Iowa

Photo by: Ellman Photography

Softball: Packard and Karnatz Shine on Day One, but Roos Fall in Both Games

2/22/2020 12:05:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score vs. Iowa Box Score vs. Hawai'i

HONOLULU, Hawai'i -- Kansas City Softball (2-5) wrapped up day one of the Hawai'i Invitational, falling to Iowa in a 2-1 thriller and Hawai'i by a final score of 5-1.

Game No. One vs. Iowa Recap

In the first game of the Hawai'i Invitational, Kansas City (2-4) faced Big Ten foe Iowa (8-2). The Hawkeyes came into this game as the second-best team in the Big Ten. This was the teams' first ever matchup in its histories and it was the definition of a pitcher's duel. Iowa came away with the slight edge, winning by a final score of 2-1.

After pitching well against SF Austin in the final game of the Maverick Classic last weekend, Kailyn Packard got the nod in the circle. She proved that she can pitch with the best of them, regardless of the conference.

On the other side, the Hawkeyes started their ace pitcher Lauren Shaw. Shaw is fresh off winning the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week and owned a 1.65 ERA coming into the game.

Despite the great performance in the circle for Packard, the Roos couldn't square up Shaw even though they out-hit the Hawkeyes seven to four.

The aces for both teams were rolling through the first two innings. In the first inning, Packard sat the Hawkeyes down in order. In the second inning she allowed a walk, but racked up two strikeouts. Although the Roos were able to get a hit in each the first and second inning from Ashlynn Williams and Breanna Hunter, Shaw kept the game scoreless.

The Roos were first to the scoreboard in Hawai'i in the top of the third inning. Williams doubled with two outs in the inning to left-center and legged out a double. The DH for the Roos, Delainey Fenoglio sent a shot to the right side, scoring Williams for her first RBI of the year.

The Hawkeyes finally found their first hit with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. The Hawkeyes started a two out rally with two hits, to tie the game one-all.

It was a pitcher's duel from there on in the game, as both pitchers traded several 'one, two, three ' innings.

However, in the bottom of the seventh inning, Iowa's bats came to life. After giving up a double with one out, the Hawkeyes walked it off with a game winning RBI single.

Game No. Two at Hawai'i Recap

Kansas City Softball (2-5) couldn't wake up the bats in game number two of the Hawai'i Invitational, falling to the hosts Hawai'i (6-7) by a final score of 5-1.

The bright spot for the Roos came from the freshman Katherine Karnatz, who went 3-3 in the game with an RBI and a stolen base. For Karnatz, it marked her first multi-hit game in her collegiate career and first RBI. She also played well on the defensive end, racking up two put-outs and assisting on four put-outs with no errors. So far this season, she has started all seven games at short stop.

Sophomore Mia Hoveland started off the game solid in the circle. After giving up a double on the first at-bat, she buckled down. She got a groundball that Karnatz threw the runner out at third on and then got the ground ball she needed to end the inning with a double play. Then, Hoveland sat the Hawai'i side down in order in the second inning.

The Rainbow Warriors of Hawai'i were able to time-up Hoveland in the second go-round through the order. They ended up scoring five runs in the third through fifth inning off of her, mounting a lead that the Roos couldn't climb.

A couple new Roos this season, sophomore transfer Delainey Fenoglio and junior transfer Hayley Patterson finished off the final inning and a half not allowing a run. Fenoglio came in the game in the bottom of the fifth with one out and a runner on and left her stranded. Patterson came into the game in the bottom of the sixth with two outs and two runners on and left three stranded.

The bats woke up in the seventh inning, but a bit too late in the game to mount a comeback. Lia Lombardini and Breanna Hunter (pinch hitter) singled to start the inning, but Friloux grounded into a double play. Karnatz, who was hot at the plate all game for the Roos, produced and drove in the runner at third for the first score of the game and her first collegiate RBI.

The Roos fall to 1-6 overall all-time to Hawai'i and will look to bounce back on day number two of the Hawai'i Invitational.

UP NEXT

The team will put today's games to bed and wake up tomorrow with a new slate of games in the Hawai'i Invitational. The Roos first face Portland State at 2 pm CT. This will be their first matchup in its histories. Then, depending on seeding, the Roos will either play at 6 p.m. CT or 8 p.m. CT with the opponent TBD.