Softball: Fenoglio's Home Run Not Enough to Defeat Iowa

Sunday, February 23

Honolulu, Hawaii

4:00 PM

Kansas City

3-7

University of Iowa

12-2

Iowa Hawkeyes

Kansas City

Photo by: Ellman Photography

Softball: Fenoglio's Home Run Not Enough to Defeat Iowa

2/23/2020 6:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score Roos' Weekend Stats

HONOLULU, Hawai'i – Kansas City softball (3-7) wrapped up their time in the Aloha State with its final game of the Hawai'i Invitational against Iowa. Just as game one was between the Roos and Hawkeyes, game two today was also a pitchers duel. The offense for both teams came alive late, but Iowa's offense won the edge, winning 4-2. Kansas City finished the Hawai'i Invitational with a 1-4 record.

"We showed positive signs in all areas of the game at times this weekend," said head coach Kerry Shaw. "But, each phase of the game also cost us at least a game on the weekend."

This game started out with both pitchers in control. In the circle for the Roos was sophomore Mia Hoveland. For the Hawkeyes was again, Lauren Shaw, the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week last week.

Hoveland pitched well to contact through the first five innings to the Hawkeye batters. She allowed just four hits with no strikeouts. The defense was there to back her up, committing zero errors through the first five. The teams went into the sixth inning all tied up at zero.

The Hawkeyes found the scoreboard first in the top of the sixth. Hawkeyes' freshman Kelena Burns homered to left giving them a 2-0 lead.

However, in the bottom of the sixth, the transfer Delainey Fenoglio came up big with the answer. Hawkeyes pitcher Lauren Shaw came into today's game with a 1.40 ERA (best in the Big Ten) and had allowed just three home runs through eight games. Fenoglio was able to drive one over the fence for her first homer of the season to score Sydney Garcia, evening up the game at 2-2. Fenoglio played well all tournament, hitting .500 on the weekend on 14 at-bats. She also finished with one homerun and three RBI's.

In the top of the seventh, a Hawkeye reached on an error. The next at-bat, pinch-hitter Donirae Mayhew launched one over the wall off of Roos pitcher Kailyn Packard to give the Hawkeyes the eventual game winner.

After the 4-2 loss today, the Roos move to 0-2 all time against Iowa. The two games this weekend marked the lone games in the schools' history and they were both a competitive game to the finish.

The Roos pitching staff was one of the bright spots in the Hawai'i Invitational this weekend. Kailyn Packard finished the weekend with a 2.65 ERA through 17 innings in four appearances. She finished the weekend, however, with an 0-3 record. She is now 2-5 on the season.

Three Roos in the box stood out this weekend as well. As mentioned above, Delainey Fenoglio finished the weekend with the best average on the team (.500) and most RBI's (3).

"The biggest bright spot on the weekend was the hitting from Delainey Fenoglio," said coach Shaw.

Lia Lombardini (.308 BA) and Breanna Hunter (.308 BA) stood out as well. Lombardini notched her first RBI and home run this weekend, while Hunter found her first RBI this season as well.

To view the Roos complete weekend stats in the Hawai'i Invitational, click here

NEXT UP
Kansas City will be back in Missouri next weekend for a trio of games at SE Missouri State. The Roos will play one game on Saturday, Feb 29 at 5 pm CT and two games on Sunday, March 1 at 10:30 am CT and 12:30 pm CT.