Roos Notch Explosive Victory Over UT Arlington

Saturday, February 17

Arlington, TX

4:30 PM

Kansas City

2-7

UT Arlington

2-6

Kansas City

UT Arlington

Photo by: Michael Sudhalter

Roos Notch Explosive Victory Over UT Arlington

2/17/2024 9:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Kansas City came out hot and kept the momentum going with home runs from Lexy Smith and Briona Woods

ARLINGTON, Texas - Kansas City Softball (2-7) got to work early and gained momentum in the fifth putting up a dominant 9-4 victory over UT Arlington (2-6). It was a team effort throughout, with five Roos putting up multiple hit appearances. Kadin Vire led the Roos at-bat, earning four RBIs off four hits in five at-bats. As a team, only one Kansas City batter struck out. On the defensive end, Camryn Stickle notched two strikeouts in the 4.2 innings she pitched, catching both batters swinging. Heading into the fifth, the Roos and Mavericks were tied, until Lexy Smith beamed one down the center for her second consecutive home run and second of her career. Up next, Briona Woods followed in her footsteps smashing her first home run as a Roo to put Kansas City up by two. The Roos worked together a string of scoring plays in the top of the sixth and again in the seventh to put them up 9-3. They allowed just one run in the bottom of the seventh closing the game in dominant fashion.

The Roos were set to face DePaul later in the evening, but the game was canceled due to inclement weather and windchill.

KEY MOMENTS | UT ARLINGTON

Top 1 / 1-0 | The Roos opened the game with a pair of singles from Abby Husak and Kadin Vire. After Katie Noble was hit by a pitch, the Blue and Gold had the bases loaded with no outs. Lexy Smith allowed one run to score on a fielder's choice, but the Mavericks put a stop to Kansas City's momentum getting two outs and closing the at-bat.
Top 2 / 3-0 | Sydney Nichols put up her first double of the day with just one out and she advanced to third on a single from Abby Husak. Putting on the pressure, Husak then stole second and a single from Vire was enough to send Nichols and Husak home. UTA walked the next batter and then earned a ground out to close the Kansas City at bat.
Bottom 2 / 3-1| The first UTA batter smashed one out of the park, but Noble responded, locking down in the circle. The next Maverick batter bunted to Noble who came up with a big double play, catching the bunt and throwing the ball to Bailey Brumley at first for out number two. The Roos forced a ground out from the last batter, escaping the inning with just one run against them.
Top 5 / 5-3 | Smith led off for Kansas City smashing a solo home run down the center. Briona Woods followed her in the batter's box and knocked another one out of the park to put the Roos ahead by two. Following the back-to-back home runs, UTA got three quick outs, to end the scoring push.
Top 6 / 7-3 | Kansas City's first two batters fouled and flew the ball out, but Vire was just getting started for the Roos. She knocked a single down the left field line with two outs and a Noble walk moved her into scoring position. Smith singled for and RBI and Woods doubled for another, extending the lead to four.

STATS TO NOTE

It was a career-high night for Vire. She notched her first collegiate triple and put a new career-high in hits and RBIs. She led the team at bat earning four hits in five at-bats for a .560 average and brought in a team-high four runs.
Smith added to her five-game hitting streak, with her second career home run and a single. So far this season, Smith has earned at least one hit in every game aside from the Feb. 9 loss against Hawaii where the Rainbows kept the Roos off the scoreboard.
Stickle threw two crucial strikeouts for the Roos tonight and notched her first win of the season. She currently leads the Roos in strikeouts with 15 across 37.1 innings.
The back-to-back home runs earned by Smith and Woods mark Kansas City's first multi-home run game since April 22, 2023. In that game, the Roos documented two home runs over Western Illinois, winning 9-7. The April 22 victory was the lone multi-home run game last season.

UP NEXT
The Roos wrap up the UT Arlington tournament facing Boise State (5-2) at 3 p.m.