Roos Complete 4-Game Series Sweep of the Leathernecks

Sunday, April 25

Macomb, IL

11:00 AM

Kansas City

23-18, 0

Western Illinois University

16-28, 0

Kansas City

Western Illinois

Roos Complete 4-Game Series Sweep of the Leathernecks

4/25/2021 4:52:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Final Box-Game 1 Final Box-Game 2

Hoveland throws a shutout and was one-out away from a no-hitter

Macomb, Ill. – Kansas City (24-18, 8-8) completed the four-game series sweep of Western Illinois (16-29, 6-14). The second day featured a shutout that was one out away from a no-hitter and a solid defensive effort starred by diving plays.

Kansas City will travel to Iowa State on Tuesday, April 27 for a mid-week showdown at 4 p.m. before they return home for their last home series next weekend against Omaha.

Game 1- Kansas City 3, Western Illinois 0
The first game of the day seemed to replicate the pitcher's duel from game one of the series. The left-handed pitcher from Western Illinois held off the Kansas City offense until the third inning when things started falling the Roos' way. Macy Hornosky crossed the plate first after pinch running for Delainey Fenoglio who singled to centerfield. Hornosky crossed on Kloe Hilbrenner's single past the second baseman. Then textbook hitting by Ally Vonfeldt brought home Katherine Karnatz and Hilbrenner on a double to right-center field.

"Mia threw nearly perfect in the one-hitter and our defense did everything they could to back up their pitcher's effort," Head Coach Kerry Shaw said. "Diving plays by Faith Willis and Sydney McQuinn saved almost guaranteed hits and kept the Leathernecks off the bases until the final out of the game."

Kansas City's three inning rally would be all that the Roos needed to force their third win of the season and Mia Hoveland's first complete seven inning shutout. Adding to her impressive weekend, Hoveland finished the game nearly perfect while only allowing a walk and a single in the bottom of the seventh with two outs. Hoveland added five strikeouts, taking her season total to 158, good for sixth in program history.

Game 2- Kansas City 7, Western Illinois 4
In game two, the Roos got off to a hot start right away, posting three runs in the top of the first inning. Karnatz opened the game with a walk, and was immediately driven in by Hilbrenner, who singled to left field and made it all the way to third on an error by the Leathernecks. Hilbrenner and Willis also came around to score in the inning, setting the tone for the Roos the rest of the way.

After WIU brought in a run of their own in the first, KC responded right back using the duo of Karnatz and Hilbrenner once again. Karnatz found a gap in right-center for a triple, and Hilbrenner brought her in for her second RBI of the game.

The Leathernecks posted two runs in the bottom of the second to make things interesting, but freshman pitcher Camryn Stickel gave up just three hits in the final five innings to bring home her 12th win of the year. That mark brings her into the top 10 of wins in a single season in program history.

"It was a complete team-effort to help us complete the series sweep in Macomb," Shaw said. "Western Illinois kept throwing us challenges but our defense and pitching held strong and luckily things went our way on offense."

At the plate, Hilbrenner, Vonfeldt and Sciara all had two runs batted in, with McQuinn adding one of her own. Four Roos had a multi-hit game, with Karnatz, Hilbrenner, Sciara and Alexis D'Ambrosio each going 2-of-4.