Sixth Inning Rally Falls Just Short Against Drake

Saturday, March 2

Tulsa, OK

12:30 PM

Kansas City

6-12

Drake

8-5

Drake

Kansas City

Photo by: Michael Sudhalter

Sixth Inning Rally Falls Just Short Against Drake

3/2/2024 4:26:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Kansas City had a slow-hitting game but had a chance to turn things around late

TULSA, Okla. - Kansas City Softball (6-12) struggled to get going against Drake (8-5) with just two hits in the first four innings, ultimately falling 7-4. Katie Noble led the Roos from the plate, earning two hits and making her KC's only player with a multi-hit performance. The Roos used two pitchers in the game, including Noble who pitched for three innings. Camryn Stickel came in as relief midway through the fourth, notching four strikeouts on the day. It was a pitching duel until the fourth when the Bulldogs got hot, bringing in four runs. They added another in the top of the sixth, extending their lead to five. Kansas City's best hitting performance came in the bottom of the sixth where the Blue and Gold were able to bring in four runs off four hits.

KEY MOMENTS

Top 2 / 0-0 | Drake loaded the bases with two outs, but the Roos stayed strong notching out number three on a ball flied out to center field, holding the Bulldogs scoreless.
Bottom 3 / 0-0 | Kimberlyn Spring notched her first career hit to open the inning, as well as the Roos' first hit of the day. She launched the ball to right field, but Kansas City could not get anything else going.
Bottom 4 / 4-0 | For the second consecutive inning, the Roos opened the inning with a hit. Katie Noble singled down the right field line, but a double play on the next at-bat allowed the Bulldogs to quickly close the inning.
Top 5 / 4-0 | Entering the circle for the Roos midway through the fourth, Camryn Stickel was ready to throw some heat in the fifth. She notched the first out on a fielder's choice and then threw back-to-back strikeouts to close Drake's plate appearance. In the next inning, Stickel threw another pair of strikeouts to send the Roos to the plate.
Bottom 6 / 5-2| The Blue and Gold brought together their first scoring play of the game. For the third consecutive inning, the Kansas City started with a single, this time from Lauren Parker. Kadin Vire then hit a single and both scored on an error for the first runs of the game with just one out. Noble added her second hit of the day with a single up the middle and Espy Daniels entered as pinch runner. Daniels advanced on a wild pitch and then Briona Woods was walked with two outs to move Daniels into scoring position with the tying runner at bat. A single from Derika Castillo to second base allowed another two runs to score on an error. Castillo's hit brought the Roos within one of the Bulldogs, just before Drake notched out number three.

STATS TO NOTE

Noble notched singles in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings. Today's performance marks her third multi-hit performance of the season. She currently ranks fourth on the team at the plate batting .267 on the season.
Entering the matchup in the fourth inning, Stickel threw back-to-back two strikeouts' innings. Her four strikeouts were more than all other pitchers combined in the matchup.
The six errors are a season high for the Roos. Prior to today, Kansas City was averaging 1.29 errors per game.
Spring earned her first career hit with a single in the bottom of the third. Her single was Kansas City's first hit of the game and earned in her third collegiate plate appearance.

UP NEXT
The Roos wrap up play in Tulsa facing Miami (OH) (11-3) at 10 a.m. and Tulsa (9-6) at 3 p.m.