Saturday, April 24
Macomb, IL
12:00 PM
Kansas City
21-18, 0
2
at
1
Western Illinois University
16-26, 0
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Kansas City
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
7
2
Western Illinois
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
3
0
Kansas City Sweeps Western Illinois in Day One of Series
4/24/2021 6:05:00 PM | Softball
Hilbrenner shatters single-season steal record with 35 steals and counting
Macomb, Ill. – Kansas City (22-18, 6-8) earned a very important first day sweep of Western Illinois (16-27, 6-12) in the rankings race to The Summit League championships. The day was filled with clutch homeruns, commanding pitching, and record-breaking speed.
Game 1- Kansas City 2, Western Illinois 1
In a game with little offense, Ally Vonfeldt came in clutch once against with a two-run homerun that would prove to be the game winner in a pitcher's duel. The Roos entered the sixth inning down 0-1 but the two-three punch put Kansas City on top. Kloe Hilbrenner doubled to lead off the inning and then Vonfeldt stepped up and cleared the bases with her 12th homerun of the season.
"Ally's hit was very clutch, our offense couldn't string anything together against a good Western Illinois pitcher who lived on the outside corner," Head Coach Kerry Shaw said.
Both pitchers threw complete games and battled to keep the bases empty in the low scoring game. Kansas City's ace, Mia Hoveland, earned her 11th win of the season and added eight more strikeouts to her tally. She only allowed the Leatherneck batters three hits and a single run that came in the third inning.
"Mia threw a phenomenal game and I am glad we could come out on top in another close contest that she pitched," Shaw said. "Other than a walk and a double that led to the run, she threw a nearly perfect game."
Kansas City won the hitting battle with seven hits with three of us coming off the bat of Lia Lombardini. Hilbrenner added two to the hit column and a stolen base to tie the Kansas City Softball record for stolen bases in a season.
Game 2- Kansas City 6, Western Illinois 2
In the second game, Kansas City scored all six of their runs in the first three innings and coasted to their day one sweep.
The Roos started early and often. Their first run came in the first inning on a sac fly by Vonfeldt that scored Karnatz who led off the game with a walk. An inning later, Karnatz broke it open with a single to right field that scored Sydney McQuinn and Alexis D'Ambrosio.
"We have struggled to hit with runners in scoring position," Shaw said. "KK and Lia did that for us today to give us a cushioned lead."
The third inning produced three more runs for the Roos. Lombardini came through with her team-leading 11th double of the season. The hit down the line scored Vonfeldt and Faith Willis to extend the lead. Then D'Ambrosio tacked on another hit that scored Lombardini to give KC the 6-0 lead through three.
"We coasted until the end and gave ourselves a little scare instead of putting the game away when we had chances on offense," Shaw said.
Camryn Stickel commanded the complete game in the circle until a final inning rally by Western Illinois. Great defense assisted Stickel in her 11th win of the season where she held the Leathernecks to two runs and earned five strikeouts.
With record breaking speed, Hilbrenner broke the single-season program record for stolen bases with 35 stolen bases and counting. She has successfully stolen 35-out-of-36 bases attempted. The previous record was set in 2015 by Brooke Parker with 32 stolen bases.
"Kloe is a tremendous athlete and gets to peak-speed so quickly, that's what makes her so successful," Shaw said. "I am proud of this record for her and believe she will continue to break records with her athleticism."
Kansas City will complete the four-game series against WIU tomorrow, Sunday, April 25th. First pitch of the double-header is set for 11 a.m.
Game 1- Kansas City 2, Western Illinois 1
In a game with little offense, Ally Vonfeldt came in clutch once against with a two-run homerun that would prove to be the game winner in a pitcher's duel. The Roos entered the sixth inning down 0-1 but the two-three punch put Kansas City on top. Kloe Hilbrenner doubled to lead off the inning and then Vonfeldt stepped up and cleared the bases with her 12th homerun of the season.
"Ally's hit was very clutch, our offense couldn't string anything together against a good Western Illinois pitcher who lived on the outside corner," Head Coach Kerry Shaw said.
Both pitchers threw complete games and battled to keep the bases empty in the low scoring game. Kansas City's ace, Mia Hoveland, earned her 11th win of the season and added eight more strikeouts to her tally. She only allowed the Leatherneck batters three hits and a single run that came in the third inning.
"Mia threw a phenomenal game and I am glad we could come out on top in another close contest that she pitched," Shaw said. "Other than a walk and a double that led to the run, she threw a nearly perfect game."
Kansas City won the hitting battle with seven hits with three of us coming off the bat of Lia Lombardini. Hilbrenner added two to the hit column and a stolen base to tie the Kansas City Softball record for stolen bases in a season.
Game 2- Kansas City 6, Western Illinois 2
In the second game, Kansas City scored all six of their runs in the first three innings and coasted to their day one sweep.
The Roos started early and often. Their first run came in the first inning on a sac fly by Vonfeldt that scored Karnatz who led off the game with a walk. An inning later, Karnatz broke it open with a single to right field that scored Sydney McQuinn and Alexis D'Ambrosio.
"We have struggled to hit with runners in scoring position," Shaw said. "KK and Lia did that for us today to give us a cushioned lead."
The third inning produced three more runs for the Roos. Lombardini came through with her team-leading 11th double of the season. The hit down the line scored Vonfeldt and Faith Willis to extend the lead. Then D'Ambrosio tacked on another hit that scored Lombardini to give KC the 6-0 lead through three.
"We coasted until the end and gave ourselves a little scare instead of putting the game away when we had chances on offense," Shaw said.
Camryn Stickel commanded the complete game in the circle until a final inning rally by Western Illinois. Great defense assisted Stickel in her 11th win of the season where she held the Leathernecks to two runs and earned five strikeouts.
With record breaking speed, Hilbrenner broke the single-season program record for stolen bases with 35 stolen bases and counting. She has successfully stolen 35-out-of-36 bases attempted. The previous record was set in 2015 by Brooke Parker with 32 stolen bases.
"Kloe is a tremendous athlete and gets to peak-speed so quickly, that's what makes her so successful," Shaw said. "I am proud of this record for her and believe she will continue to break records with her athleticism."
Kansas City will complete the four-game series against WIU tomorrow, Sunday, April 25th. First pitch of the double-header is set for 11 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hoveland, Mia (11-11)
L: Abby Carlin (7-13)
Batting:
2B: Hilbrenner, Kloe 1
HR: Vonfeldt, Ally 1
RBI: Vonfeldt, Ally 2
SH: McQuinn, Sydney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hilbrenner, Kloe 1 ; Vonfeldt, Ally 1
SB: Hilbrenner, Kloe 1
PO: Hilbrenner, Kloe 1
Batting:
2B: Sydney Hollings 1
RBI: Sydney Hollings 1
SH: Ashley Minyard 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Meghan Henson 1
HBP: Abrianna Gracia 1
PO: Sydney Hollings 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
C
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INF/C
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P
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INF/UT
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Softball Highlights vs. St. Thomas (Game Two)
Saturday, March 21
Softball Highlights vs. St. Thomas (Game One)
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Head Coach Mark Turgeon Full Introductory Press Conference
Monday, March 09