Roos Bounce Back Against South Dakota, Advance to Summit League Semifinal

Thursday, May 9

Brookings, SD

1:30 PM

Kansas City

22-30

Omaha

38-12

Kansas City

OMAHA

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

Roos Bounce Back Against South Dakota, Advance to Summit League Semifinal

5/9/2024 9:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Highlights vs. Omaha Highlights vs. South Dakota

Kansas City Softball stays alive after 21 innings of play

BROOKINGS, SD — To say it was a long day for Kansas City Softball (23-30, 8-10) would be an understatement; the Roos faced off in a 14-inning pitching duel with #2 Omaha (38-12, 14-4) to open the day, falling 1-0 in the bottom of the 14^th inning. The Blue and Gold then took a brief break before their second game, facing #4 South Dakota (23-30, 7-10). The Roos entered the second matchup with the same hustle as the first, but this time made offensive moves early, defeating the Coyotes 7-3.

The first game of the day exemplified a pitching duel with Summit League Pitcher of the Year, Kamryn Meyer taking the circle for Omaha and First Team All-Summit Camryn Stickel holding things down for KC. During their 14-inning quarterfinal game, the Roos out-hit the Mavericks 6-to-5 earning no errors, but a hit from Omaha in the bottom of the 14^th was the game deciding factor. Lexy Smith led the Roos at the plate and was the only Kansas City batter to earn multiple hits off Meyer. A walk-off home run pushed game one out of reach for the Roos, but Kansas City was ready to battle in game two.

After a 45-minute break between games, Kansas City made their mark against South Dakota putting up two runs in the first inning. The Coyotes rallied and led the game through the fifth inning, but Kansas City still had fight left, opening the floodgates for a five-run fifth inning. Katie Noble, Sydney Nichols and Briona Woods all picked up two RBIs each in the victory. The three, put up two hits each along with two more from Elleana Navarro and one from Smith to put them at seven on the day. In just her fourth complete game of the season, Noble got the job done in the circle logging two strikeouts in the victory that advances Kansas City to the semifinals.

KEY MOMENTS | HIGHLIGHTS | OMAHA

Bottom 1 / 0-0 | Stickel opened the game with a walk but made a quick recovery, logging an out off a bunt from the next Maverick. She then threw back-to-back strikeouts to close the Omaha plate appearance and did not look back.
Bottom 3 / 0-0 | Omaha knocked a single up the middle with two outs. The runner attempted to steal second and was caught by a long throw from Kadin Vire to Navarro at second for out number three.
Top 5 / 0-0 | Kansas City saw one of its better scoring chances of the day, thanks to a Vire single ripped past the first base line. Navarro bumped Vire into scoring position with one out, but Omaha logged back-to-back strikeouts to close the scoring opportunity.
Top 7 / 0-0 | The Roos saw another scoring chance thanks to a Nichols single to center field. Espy Daniels pinch ran for Nichols and was joined by Vire who reached first on an error with one out. The Roos could not get a runner across home plate before Omaha brought down out number two and logged a strikeout for out three.
Top 10 / 0-0 | The Blue and Gold looked to get a play together with two outs. Noble was walked and then stole second. Lauren Parker was then hit by a pitch to give KC two runners on base, but Omaha once again came up with the third out.
Top 14 / 0-0 | Smith opened the plate appearance with a single that broke through the left side. Nichols was walked, joining Smith on base but back-to-back outs closed KC's plate appearance. In the bottom of the inning, an Omaha pinch-hitter sent the ball out of the park to win the game.

KEY MOMENTS | HIGHLIGHTS | SOUTH DAKOTA

Bottom 1 / 2-0 | The Blue and Gold got to work with two outs, thanks to a walk that placed Smith on first. Woods knocked a double to left center to bring in the first run of the game. She then stole third, allowing herself to score on the Nichols single that came a few pitches after. South Dakota then tied the game in the top of the second with a walk and a pair of singles.
Top 3 / 2-3 | A single followed by a triple from South Dakota State allows them to claim the lead midway through the third.
Top 4 / 2-3 | Noble went three up, three down to get the Roos back on track.
Bottom 5 / 7-3 | Kansas City opened the inning with a Husak walk and erupted at the plate after. Vire reached on a fielder's choice as South Dakota picked off Husak. A single from Smith up the middle moved Vire into scoring position and a single from Woods brought Vire home to retie the game. A wild pitch allowed Smith to score and Woods to advance to third, once again giving Kansas City the lead. Nichols hit a ground-out RBI to bring Woods home, but Kansas City still wasn't done. Daniels made it on base as a pinch-hitter with a walk and a hit from Navarro pushed her into scoring position. Noble showed her strength at the plate with a two-RBI triple, forcing a pitching change and securing a four-run lead for the Roos.
Top 7 / 7-3 | Noble went three up, three down to close the game and advance the Roos to the Semifinals.

STATS TO NOTE

Today's game against Omaha ranks Stickel second in program history for innings pitched in a single appearance. Stickel falls just behind Deanna Friese who threw 14 innings against IPFW on March 25, 2012. Before today's game, Stickel ranked 4^thin the nation for innings pitched with 194.0 on the season and was tied for 4^th in the nation for pitching appearances with 40.
Stickel retired 21 consecutive batters from the fifth until the 12^th inning essentially throwing a no-hitter in the middle of the matchup. She logged three strikeouts across those seven innings.
The win over South Dakota allows Kansas City to at least match its performance at the 2021 Summit League Conference Championships when the Roos defeated South Dakota and South Dakota State.
Noble's triple in the third was just her second of the season and third of the career. Her two-RBI triple brings Kansas City to eight triples on the year.

UP NEXT
The Roos will face the loser of Game 6 between #1 South Dakota State and #2 Omaha. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.