Roos Drop First Day of Hawaii Tournament Against BYU, Nevada
2/8/2024 11:13:00 PM | Softball
Kansas City had a hot start in both games but could not hold on in the final innings
Manoa, Hawaii - Kansas City Softball (0-2) opened its season with an exciting start against BYU (2-0) but could not hold on falling 17-8. The Roos then faced Nevada (1-0) falling to them in the seventh inning 2-1.
In the first game, the Roos went to work early, tallying eight runs in the bottom of the first inning, with every player earning either a run or an RBI. Â Kansas City was able to hold the Cougars scoreless for the first two innings, but in the third BYU began to slowly chip away at Kansas City's cushion. The Cougars had back-to-back three-run innings in the third and the fourth, bringing them within two of the Roos. Â In the fifth. BYU responded to the Blue and Gold's eight-run opening inning with their own to put them 14-8. Camryn Stickel led the Roos in the circle pitching four innings and notching Kansas City's first strikeout of the season. BYU kept the energy up in the sixth, earning three more runs and pushing the game out of reach for the Roos.
In the second matchup, the Roos once again got to work quickly, this time with Lexy Smith coming up with an RBI. Â Kansas City and Nevada both went into a defensive lockdown holding the game without another run until the seventh inning. At the top of the seventh, Nevada worked themselves into scoring range early, advancing batters to second and third with no outs. Nevada was able to capitalize on their positioning, bringing in two runs to give them the lead. The Wolf Pack stayed locked down in the seventh, denying Kansas City an attempt to rally.
KEY MOMENTS | BYU
The Roos head into their second day of tournament play, facing Ole Miss (0-1) at 7:30 p.m., followed by Hawaii (0-0) at 10 p.m.
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In the first game, the Roos went to work early, tallying eight runs in the bottom of the first inning, with every player earning either a run or an RBI. Â Kansas City was able to hold the Cougars scoreless for the first two innings, but in the third BYU began to slowly chip away at Kansas City's cushion. The Cougars had back-to-back three-run innings in the third and the fourth, bringing them within two of the Roos. Â In the fifth. BYU responded to the Blue and Gold's eight-run opening inning with their own to put them 14-8. Camryn Stickel led the Roos in the circle pitching four innings and notching Kansas City's first strikeout of the season. BYU kept the energy up in the sixth, earning three more runs and pushing the game out of reach for the Roos.
In the second matchup, the Roos once again got to work quickly, this time with Lexy Smith coming up with an RBI. Â Kansas City and Nevada both went into a defensive lockdown holding the game without another run until the seventh inning. At the top of the seventh, Nevada worked themselves into scoring range early, advancing batters to second and third with no outs. Nevada was able to capitalize on their positioning, bringing in two runs to give them the lead. The Wolf Pack stayed locked down in the seventh, denying Kansas City an attempt to rally.
KEY MOMENTS | BYU
- Bottom 1 / 0-8 | The Roos loaded the bases with two outs, earning their first run on a walk that forced the runner home. Following the unearned run, Kansas City broke open scoring with a single from Derika Castillo that sent two runs home followed by a Taylor Kvale single that brought in another run. Then Abby Husak and Kadin Vire got in on the action, each hitting singles and batting in two runs to bring the Roos to eight.
- Top 4 / 6-8 | At the top of the fourth, the Roos found themselves in a sticky situation. The Cougars had already earned three runs and had a player in scoring position. Stickel the batter out swinging to get the Roos out of the inning.
- Bottom 4 / 6-8| Coming off a big play from Stickel, the Roos had a chance to extend their lead. Katie Noble reached first on an error, then Smith was walked. The Roos had two outs with runners on first and second, but could not convert, closing the inning with a fielder's choice.
- Bottom 6 / 17-8 | A single from Husak down the left line got her on base with no outs. BYU earned an out but then walked Noble giving the Roos runners on first and second. The next two batters struck out, closing the game.
- Top 1 / 1-0 | Husak was walked to open the inning and a sacrifice bunt from Vire along with a ground out from Noble pushed her to third base. Smith stepped into the batter's box with two outs and singled the ball to left field. Smith ran to second allowing Husak to score, before she was called out.
- Bottom 3 / 1-0 | To open the Roos' at-bat, Taylor Kvale nailed a single to left field. Nevada got a strikeout, but Vire knocked a single to left field getting herself to first and advancing Kvale to scoring position. The Roos were not able to convert with a Nevada double-play on the next at-bat.
- Bottom 5 / 1-0| With one out, Briona Woods knocked a double to right center. A sacrifice bunt from Kvale advanced Woods to third base. Next in the lineup, Husak hit a single to the pitcher and Woods was caught at home, unable to score.
- Top 6 / 1-0 | Nevada was able to get runners to second and third with just one out. On a fielder's choice, the Roos made the out at home and then Stickel sealed the deal with a strikeout to strand two runners on base. Â Â Â
- In the bottom of the first inning, every player on the Roos' batting lineup earned either a run or an RBI. The last time every player on the batting lineup documented an RBI or a run was during Kansas City's victory over then No. 8 Oklahoma State on March 19, 2021.
- The eight runs earned by Kansas City are the most they have earned in a season opener since Feb. 8, 2019, when the Roos defeated Detroit 9-0. Â
- Husak led the Roos in hits during the first game, going 2-for-4. She was the only Roo to notch more than one hit. Two hits is a career-high for Husak as well as the two RBIs she earned in the process.
- Sydney Nichols led the Roos in the field in the second game earning five assists and two putouts. Nichols started both games at short stop and in the first earned just one assist and one putout.
The Roos head into their second day of tournament play, facing Ole Miss (0-1) at 7:30 p.m., followed by Hawaii (0-0) at 10 p.m.
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Players Mentioned
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