GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota softball team concludes the regular season this weekend with a three-game series against Kansas City at Apollo Park. Friday's doubleheader begins at 2:00 p.m. while Saturday's Senior Day contest has a 1:00 start time.
 
Series History vs. the Roos
Kansas City holds a 12-6 lead against the Fighting Hawks in the all-time series dating back to the first meeting in 2009, a 5-4 North Dakota win. This will be the first series played between the two teams in Grand Forks since the 2021 season when they split the series 2-2 at Apollo.
 
North Dakota won the season series 2-1 over the Roos in Kansas City in 2023. Makaela Carr pitched a pair of back-to-back complete game wins, totaling nine strikeouts and just three earned runs in 14.0 innings of work. In the series finale, Carr tossed a two-hit shutout to help the Hawks to a 2-0 victory.
 
Albrecht is Dealing
In Summit League contests, Albrecht ranks No. 6 in ERA (2.18), No. 5 in opposing batting average (2.20), No. 3 in strikeouts (44) and carries a 3-4 record. On the season Albrecht holds a 6-13 mark and a 3.11 ERA with 122 strikeouts. Albrecht struck out a season-high 10 batter in a nine-inning effort against Lamar earlier this season and also went the distance in a nine-inning win over Seton Hall in March.
 
Albrecht has thrown a complete game in six of her seven starts at Apollo Park, has three shutouts, 42 strikeouts and is 4-4 in those contests with a 1.67 earned run average.
 
Don't Run on Castaneda
Behind the plate, Castaneda tops the Summit League and is tied for third across the NCAA with 16 runners caught stealing. Castenada ranked No. 2 in the nation a season ago by throwing out 21 runners and has thrown out 62 runners trying to steal in her career.  
 
Top Hawks in the Lineup
Angie Dumlao's .297 batting average tops the Fighting Hawks lineup and her .339 on-base percentage ranks No. 4 on the team. Dumlao has legged out four doubles on the season, scored six runs and drove in 12 runs. Johanna Rodriguez carries the second highest batting average on the team at .267 and is No. 2 on the team with 14 RBIs. Rodriguez has four doubles, six runs scored and one home run on the year. Mariah Peters' totaled 25 hits and has a team leading 15 RBIs. Katelyn Neumayer and Rodriguez are tied for second with 14 runs batted in.
 
Neumayer's hitting .211 at the plate, has crossed home plate 15 times, ran out four doubles and leads the Hawks with three home runs. Peters has tallied five doubles, 11 runs, 15 walks and is a perfect 3-for-3 on stolen base attempts.
 
Katie Joten is No. 3 in the conference with 37 assists in Summit League play. Joten's drawn 25 walks on the season, has been hit by 13 pitches and has been one of the most active players on the base paths and is tied for third in the conference with 13 stolen bases on 14 attempts.
 
Castaneda Named Summit League Peak Performer of the Week
Castaneda won Summit League Peak Performer of the Week honors last week, sharing the honor with St. Thomas' Kaitlyn Raymond, after hitting .667 over four games last week (including the nonconference game against Minot State), and .714 in the three games against North Dakota State. She reached on seven of ten plate appearances against the Bison and is leading the team with a .323 batting average in conference play.
 
Scouting the Roos (19-28, 6-9)
Kansas City sits a spot ahead of the Fighting Hawks in the Summit League standings entering this weekend's series. The Roos hold a record of 8-10 on the road this season and have their last eight games on the road with a 4-4 record over that stretch.
 
Camryn Stickel is the number one pitcher in the circle for the Roos with a 10-14 record in 37 appearances with 25 starts and holds a 2.66 ERA. She's struck out 111 batters in 174.0 innings pitched and has thrown 15 complete games with two shutouts. Katie Noble has played in 22 games with 16 starts and carries a 7-7 record. Noble has 30 strikeouts in 75.1 innings and has a 4.09 ERA.
 
Lexy Smith's .372 batting average in Summit League play ranks No. 5 among conference batters and on the season, she carries a .383 average in 37 games played. She also leads the Roos in RBIs (26), home runs (5), hits (46) and is tied for the lead in triples (2).
 
For more information on North Dakota softball, follow on social media @UNDsoftball or visit FightingHawks.com.