Kansas City Splits the Day with NDSU

Saturday, April 27

Fargo, ND

1:00 PM

Kansas City

17-27, 5-8

North Dakota State

16-32, 3-10

Kansas City

North Dakota St.

Photo by: Ryan Weaver Photography

Kansas City Splits the Day with NDSU

4/27/2024 5:53:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game One Highlights Game Two Highlights

Roos shutout Bison in game one but struggled to shutdown NDSU offense in game two

FARGO, N.D.— Kansas City Softball (18-27, 5-9) brought home its first win of the weekend with a 4-0 shutout victory over North Dakota State (17-32, 4-10). The Bison, however, made a quick rally in game two, defeating the Roos 11-3 in five innings. Sydney Nichols played a critical role for Kansas City in both games, earning her second home run of the season, in game one, to put the Roos on the scoreboard. Camryn Stickel held things down in the circle for the Blue and Gold in the first game allowing just three hits and throwing two strikeouts to bring her to 106 on the season. Lexy Smith earned the last out for the Roos with a sliding catch in front of third to secure Kansas City's first win over the Bison in the Kiki Stokes O'Connor era.

Game two was a different story for the Roos, as the Bison put up multiple runs in the first three innings. Kansas City looked to stage a rally in the top of the third adding three runs of its own. The Roos scoring drive kept them within eight runs of the Bison, but NDSU added another two runs in the bottom of the third to push the comeback out of reach.

KEY MOMENTS GAME ONE | HIGHLIGHTS

Top 2 / 2-0 | Nichols was ready to get things going, knocking a home run straight down the middle. She brought in Katie Noble who was walked, putting the Roos up by two. The Roos notched two more hits in the inning but could not convert.
Top 5 / 3-0 | Kansas City loaded the bases with Espy Daniels being hit by a pitch and back-to-back singles from Smith and Briona Woods. Noble brought in a run with the bases loaded, thanks to a perfectly placed ball between first base and home plate. The Bison then got the two necessary outs to close the inning, forcing KC to leave three on base.
Bottom 6 / 3-0 | Stickel went three up, three down earning her second strikeout of the day on the final out.
Top 7 / 4-0 | Pinch hitter Derika Castillo, knocked a double without hesitation, putting Kansas City in striking position. A sacrifice fly, from Amelia Fitzgerald, ultimately brought Castillo home to earn KC run number four. The Roos closed the game with three quick outs in the bottom of the inning.

KEY MOMENTS GAME TWO | HIGHLIGHTS

Bottom 1 / 4-0 | The Bison knocked back-to-back home runs, including a three-RBI homer, earning four runs in the opening inning. They tacked on five more runs, including another home run in the following inning to put them up 9-0 over the Roos.
Top 3 / 9-3 | Kansas City made its only scoring drive of the game, sparked by an Espy Daniels RIB triple. Another single for the Blue and Gold, followed by a Noble triple allowed Kansas City two more runs.

STATS TO NOTE

The Roos' win over NDSU in game one marks Kansas City's first win in Fargo, N.D. since April 22, 2012, when KC defeated North Dakota State 6-4. It was also the Roos' first shutout victory over NDSU since March 13, 2011, when the Blue and Gold won 1-0.
Kansas City earned 10 hits in the first game with Elleana Navarro and Noble earning two hits each. Ten hits are the most the Roos have earned against any Summit League opponent this year.
Noble and Daniels both earned triples in game two. Two triples are the most the Roos have earned in any game this season. Daniels's triple was the first of her collegiate career.
Hits in both games allowed Lauren Parker to extend her hitting streak to seven, the highest of her career and the longest current hitting streak on the team.

UP NEXT
The Bison and the Roos decide the series tomorrow with first pitch at 11 a.m.