The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Roadrunners baseball team opened Region 16 and Missouri Community College Athletic Conference play on Friday, March 1 against the St. Louis Community College Archers. The teams split a pair of games. SFCC won the opener 2-1 and lost the second game in 11 innings 6-5. The games were moved to California, Missouri due to weather.
In game one, SFCC scored a single run in the bottom of the second inning. The Roadrunners would tack on what would prove to be the game-winning run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Archers added a run in the top of the sixth inning to close the scoring. SFCC managed four hits as a team including a solo home run from sophomore infielder Kyle Clark and a double from sophomore catcher Blake Ford. Ford also contributed a run batted in. Freshman outfielder Brice Pannier and sophomore outfielder Hayden Bradford had one hit each. Sophomore infielder Gavin Jones also scored a run.
Sophomore pitcher Logan Bexten got the start on the mound for SFCC. He tossed five and two-thirds innings, while allowing six hits and only one run. He struck out five and only walked two. Bexten was credited with the victory. Sophomore pitcher Chris Koehler came out of the bullpen and closed out the game. He pitched one and one-third innings and struck out one to pick up the save.
"I thought we got a good starting pitching performance from Logan," said Roadrunners Baseball Head Coach Jud Kindle. "Our offense did what they needed to do. It was a cold day. I thought all-around we played a very solid game."
In game two, SFCC (6-6, 1-1 in Region 16, 1-1 in the MCCAC) got on the scoreboard first with a single run in the bottom of the first inning. They would add two more runs in the bottom of the second inning. St. Louis got on the scoreboard with a single run in the top of the sixth. SFCC answered with a run in the bottom the sixth. Each team scored a run in the seventh inning. The Archers scored three runs in the top the ninth inning to tie the game at five. Neither team scored in the 10th inning. The Archers scored what would prove to be the game-winning run in the top of the 11th inning
Clark led the SFCC offense with a double and a home run. He drove in two runs and scored one. Jones homered and Bradford contributed a pair of hits and a run scored. Freshman infielder Drew Perez also had a pair of hits and a run scored. Sophomore outfielder Brady Holden drove in a run.
Freshman pitcher Matt Perego got the start on the mound for SFCC. He pitched four innings, allowing four hits, struck out three and walked three. Freshman pitcher Cameron Pudenz pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowed one run on one hit and struck out one. He was given the loss in relief.
"I thought we played well all day." Said Kindle. "I thought our pitchers threw the ball well. We played good defense and had some timely hitting."
David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics