Kansas City Splits with Leathernecks to Begin Series

Saturday, April 22

Macomb, IL

1:00 PM

Kansas City

7-36, 2-11

Western Illinois

8-29, 2-8

Kansas City

Western Illinois

Photo by: Ryan Weaver Photography

Kansas City Splits with Leathernecks to Begin Series

4/22/2023 7:11:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Early scoring and two home runs led the Roos to victory in the first game of the day

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City (7– 37, 2 – 12) split with Western Illinois (9 – 29, 3 – 8) winning game one and losing game two. The Roos got to work early in game one, which ultimately gave them an edge over Western Illinois. Katie Noble held down the circle all seven innings and earned two hits including a double. Amelia Fitzgerald, Ally Vonfeldt and Lexi Smith all came out firing, each earning multiple RBIs. On defense, Kiki McCrea recorded five put-outs in right field.

In game two, the Leathernecks came out ready for revenge, hitting two multi-RBI home runs. Western Illinois outhit the Roos ten to one. The Roos struggled to catch batters stealing, allowing four steals at second, three of which scored. Ultimately, the Leathernecks held on to their early lead to win the second game of the day.

KEY MOMENTS GAME ONE

Top 1 / 3-0| Fitzgerald got to work early with a double, bringing Katherine Karnatz and Vonfeldt across home plate. A single from Smith allowed Fitzgerald to score and gave the Roos a three-run lead to start the game.
Bottom 3 / 3-0| Noble went three-up, three-down with three ground outs.
Top 4 / 6-0| Espy Daniels was walked. Vonfeldt nailed a home run to left center to add two for the Roos. Karnatz then hit a solo home run that went over the fence in left field. Fitzgerald and Noble then singled, but the Roos were not able to add any more runs. The Leathernecks began chipping away in the bottom of the inning, adding two runs.
Top 6 / 9-2 | The Roos open the inning ready to fire back. Karnatz nailed a single up the middle to start things off. Fitzgerald hit her second double of the day, batting in Karnatz. Nichols then hit a double down the right field line, followed by a Smith single bringing in one RBI a piece. Kansas City loaded the bases with an error and a walk but was not able to convert.
Bottom 7 / 9-7 | Western Illinois tasted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, earning five runs from six hits. The Roos shut down the offensive drive, forcing the Leathernecks to leave two on base and taking the win.

KEY MOMENTS GAME TWO

Bottom 1 / 0-3 | Western Illinois hit a three-run home run with just one out. The Roos were able to clean up with a fielder's choice and a ground out.
Top 3 / 1-3 | Taylor Kvale advances to second on an error and a triple from Karnatz sends her home. Western Illinois responded with a run in the bottom of the third.
Bottom 4 / 1-8 | A handful of singles and a three-run home run added five to the Leathernecks' score. Western Illinois added one in the bottom of the sixth to end the game.

STATS TO NOTE

Kansas City's three-run lead after the top of the first in game one was the first time since April 8 that Kansas City started the game with a lead. The April 8 game was a run-rule shutout against North Dakota.
Ally Vonfeldt leads the Roos in home runs, documenting her third today. Noble and Nichols trail close behind with two apiece.
McCrea earned a career-high five putouts in right field, surpassing her previous record by one.
The Roos one-hit game in the second game of the day was the third time this season KC was held to a single hit.

UP NEXT
Kansas City wraps up the weekend in Macomb tomorrow at 12 p.m. in search of a series win.