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Sunday, February 27
Conway, AR
1:30 PM
Kansas City
at
Central Arkansas
Softball Set to Play in Michelle Short Memorial Classic
2/25/2022 11:45:00 AM | Softball
Games moved to Sunday and Monday due to weather
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Softball will look to snap their losing streak as the head to Conway, Ark. for the Michelle Short Memorial Classic on the campus of Central Arkansas. This weekend's games have been moved to Sunday and Monday to avoid inclement weather. The Roos will open up with Central Arkansas who defeated No. 14 LSU last week. KC will also take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff and cross-state rivals, St. Louis, this weekend.
Kansas City Notes
- In his third season at the helm of Kansas City Softball, Head Coach Kerry Shaw scheduled a strong lineup of teams, including games against four ranked programs, coming home with an 1-8 record after the first two weekends.
- A high-powered offensive Kansas City team will look to return to form in Arkansas this weekend. The Roos finished the 2021 season with a .274 team batting average and 38 homeruns, both second-most in The Summit League.
- KC returns seven starters from the 2021 season, including five seniors: Mia Hoveland (P), Alexis D'Ambrosio (C), Kloe Hilbrenner (CF), Ashley Thorne (LF) and Delainey Fenoglio (DP).
- Hilbrenner picked up where she left off last season but in the leadoff spot in the lineup. She is currently hitting .452 batting average, 14 hits and 10 stolen bases; all top-two in the Summit thus far. Hilbrenner led the Roos in batting average (.354), total hits (68), runs scored (41), and stolen bases (45) last season.
- Kansas City's other power threat, Ally Vonfeldt, will look to get going this weekend. Vonfeldt led in all power categories last season, posting a team-high slugging percentage (.580), RBIs (47), doubles (12), homeruns (13) and total bases (102). Vonfeldt's has stepped up on defense, playing shortstop and third base in the first two weekends, staying perfect with 16 assists, 11 putouts and zero errors.
- The Roos' lone NCAA transfer, middle infielder Sydney Nichols, is leading the team in homeruns with three on the season.
- Kansas City will have a five-man pitching staff, starred by senior ace, Mia Hoveland, who led the Summit with 193 strikeouts in 190 innings pitched last season.
- KC received a sophomore transfer, Casey Stout, from North Central Missouri College who recorded a 25-3 record last season with 281 strikeouts, second-best in the NJCAA in 2021. She's pitched the most innings this season thus far for the Roos, totaling 21 innings and six strikeouts.
- The Roos also return sophomore Camryn Stickel, who finished her freshman campaign with a 14-9 record on the mound. Stickel quickly made her way onto the record books, notching the fifth most wins in a single season in program history.
- The 2022 freshman class is comprised of four impact players. Sydney Reid and Lexy Smith will see time on the infield, while Audrey Danielson and Jenna Milan will make appearances in the pitching rotation.
Central Arkansas Notes
- This will be the first meeting in program history between the Roos and the Bears.
- Central Arkansas finished the 2021 season with a 37-19 record and a runner-up finish in the Southland Conference Tournament.
- The Bears have faced stout competition in 2022, recording a 3-6 record thus far, including a win over #14 LSU.
- CAU was picked third in the ASUN Preseason Coaches' Poll, just below Liberty and Kennesaw State.
- Tremere Harris was named ASUN Player of the Week after opening weekend, batting .563 and going 3-for-4 in the historic win over LSU.
- Jenna Wildeman joins Harris hitting over .400 through the Bears' first nine games with a team-high 10 runs scored.
- Kayla Beaver and Jordan Johnson have split most of the production in the circle for Central Arkansas.
- This will be the first meeting in program history between the Roos and the Golden Lions.
- The Golden Lions finished the 2021 season 2-29 record.
- Arkansas- Pine Bluff has started this season with a 1-5 record, with an impressive 32-0 victory over Harris Stowe.
- In the Golden Lions' win, Kirsten Schmidt threw a no-hitter, striking out 10 batters.
- Alyssa Wesley is leading the offense, hitting .333 with a .538 on-base percentage, using her speed to swipe three stolen bases.
- Samaria Jackson follows with a .308 batting average and a .615 slugging percentage with two triples on the season.
- Sydney Green leads Pine Bluff in the circle with 15 strikeouts in just 12 innings pitched.
St. Louis Notes
- Kansas City has met with their cross-state rivals 22 times, dating back to 2004. The Billikens hold a 17-5 series record over the Roos.
- SLU finished the 2021 season 19-27 and were picked fifth in the A-10 preseason poll coming into the 2022 season.
- In opening weekend, St. Louis' lone win came over Samford with an 8-1 victory.
- St. Louis has yet to hit a homerun in their first five games of the season.
- Gabbie Kowalik was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Week after leading the Billikens with a .533 batting average, 8 hits, 4 RBI, with two triples and two doubles.
- Kristi Stevenson is hitting .429 with a 1.000 slugging percentage through the first five games.
- Freshman Taylor Hochman has the most production in the circle with 17 innings pitched and a 2.88 ERA.
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/UT
/ SoftballSB Highlights vs. #3 South Dakota
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SB Highlights @ South Dakota (Game Three)
Saturday, May 03
SB Highlights @ South Dakota (Game Two)
Friday, May 02
SB Highlights @ South Dakota (Game One)
Friday, May 02