Kansas City Closes Season With First Winning Record in a Decade

Friday, May 14

Fargo, N.D.

1:00 PM

Kansas City

29-25

University of Nebraska at Omaha

20-26

Omaha

Kansas City

Kansas City Closes Season With First Winning Record in a Decade

5/14/2021 6:48:00 PM | Softball

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

The Roos finish a historic season with a 29-26 record

Fargo, N.D. – Kansas City (29-26) out-hit Omaha (20-26) in a heartbreaking loss in the semifinals. The Roos turned around and dropped an elimination game against South Dakota State (40-6) to round out a season that will leave its mark in the record books.

The weekend didn't finish as planned for the Roos, but they still finished the season with a lot to be proud of. Kansas City had its best start in program history through the first 15 games of the season. With a 29-26 record, KC finished the year with its first winning season since 2011. This is only the Roos' third winning season since entering NCAA Division I in 1990, three decades ago.

The Roos didn't shy away from tough competition either, facing the most ranked opponents in a single season with five. On March 19^th, Mia Hoveland led her team to their first win over a ranked opponent in program history defeating #6 Oklahoma State with a score of 6-5.

This year marks Head Coach Kerry Shaw's first full season with the Roos after a shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has led Kansas City to a historic season along with the senior leadership of Faith Willis, Lia Lombardini, Macy Hornosky, and Hayley Patterson.

Game 1- Omaha 2, Kansas City 1
Omaha struck first in the second inning with a solo shot over the right field fence. The Mavericks led the one-run ball game until the Roos capitalized on an opportunity in the fourth. Lia Lombardini started the inning with a single to centerfield and moved to second on a wild pitch. Then up stepped Delainey Fenoglio who found a gap and brought in Lombardini to tie the game at 1-1.

Kansas City had multiple chances early but were shut down attempting to cross the plate. The first opportunity came after the Roos' first hit from the bat of Alexis D'Ambrosio. She hit a shot to the right fielder that was bobbled and gave enough time for Sydney McQuinn to be waved around to score, but the 9-3-2 relay got Omaha out of the inning.

In the third, KC threatened again with Ashley Thorne on third base and a sac fly to right field by Ally Vonfeldt, but the right fielder once again made a perfect throw to the plate to shut down Kansas City. The game remained tied heading into the final inning when Omaha hit a leadoff double who later came around to score and secure the victory.

Game 2- Kansas City 0, South Dakota State 7

In the second game of the day, Kansas City continued to struggle sliding into home safely with runners in scoring position. Despite the score, the Roos recorded eight hits in the loss, including two each from Katherine Karnatz and Kloe Hilbrenner.

The Jackrabbits struck early with a three-run homerun and never let up. SDSU used three homeruns to take control of the game and cruise to a 7-0 win.

Camryn Stickel recorded her first post-season time on the mound, recording two strikeouts and finishing her freshman season with a 14-9 record and 69 strikeouts. Senior Hayley Patterson came into close the game and finished her career with a strikeout and a tip of the hat as the 2021 squad walked off the field for the final time.