March 8 St. Louis Community College at Sauget, Illinois
The State Fair College Roadrunners swept an important Region 16 and Missouri Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader from the St. Louis Community College Archers 9-5 and 6-4 on Friday, March 8.
Sophomore infielder Kyle Clark had a pair of hits in game one for SFCC. He also scored two runs. Freshman utility player Ian Jacobs had an outstanding day at the plate with two hits, two runs scored and three RBIs. Sophomore infielder Gavin Jones added a triple and an RBI. Sophomore outfielder Brady Holden drove in a run.
Sophomore pitcher Jack Schmedding got the start on the mound for SFCC. He pitched five innings, while allowing four runs, two earned. He struck out six en route to picking up the victory. Freshman pitcher Austin Brooks pitched the final two-innings of the seven inning contest.
In game two, Clark led the SFCC offense with a home run and three RBIs. Sophomore catcher Blake Ford registered a pair of hits. Freshman outfielder Brice Pannier had a hit, a run scored and an RBI. He also stole a pair of bases. Jacobs and freshman infielder Blake Barnes drove in a run apiece. Sophomore outfielder Hayden Bradford and freshman outfielder Ian Taylor also stole a base in the game.
Sophomore pitcher Conner Burnett picked up the victory on the mound for SFCC. He pitched five innings, allowed two runs and struck out six. Sophomore pitcher Chris Koehler picked up the save for SFCC. He struck out two in one inning of work.
"St. Louis is a good team," said Roadrunners Baseball Head Coach Jud Kindle. "We just played really good baseball all day long. We were able to limit their big innings and put together a couple of big innings of our own."
March 10 Mineral Area College at Park Hills, Missouri
SFCC traveled to Park Hills, Missouri on Sunday, March 10 to begin an important Region 16 and Missouri Community College Athletic Conference series against the Mineral Area College Cardinals. The Cardinals swept the doubleheader by scores of 4-3 and 11-3.
In game one, Mineral Area held the SFCC offense to just three runs on three hits in the seven-inning contest. Pannier recorded a double and an RBI. He also scored a run. Ford had a hit and a run scored in the contest. Freshman pitcher/infielder Jake Lufft had a hit and two RBIs. Bradford scored the other run for SFCC.
Sophomore pitcher Logan Bexten got the start on the mound for SFCC. Bexton pitched four and two-thirds innings to earn the loss. He gave up four runs, three earned and struck out four.
In game two, the Roadrunners offense was once again held to three runs on only five hits. Jones hit a home run and drove in a pair of runs in the game for SFCC. Sophomore outfielder Brady Holden also recorded a hit. Lufft added a hit and a run scored. Clark contributed a hit. Pannier scored a run and walked three times. Freshman infielder Brett Holden had a hit and drove in a run for SFCC.
Freshman pitcher Matt Perego got the start on the mound for the Roadrunners. He pitched three innings. He gave up five runs on five hits, struck out five and was charged with the loss.
March 11 Mineral Area College at Park Hills, Missouri
SFCC finished their series against Mineral Area College dropping a pair of games 4-2 and 7-4 in Park Hills, Missouri on Monday, March 11.
In game one, the SFCC offense garnered two runs on four hits in the seven-inning contest. Jones had a pair of hits and a run scored. Taylor hit a home run. Sophomore Brady Holden also recorded a hit.
Sophomore pitcher Bill Cain made the start on the mound for SFCC. He went the distance allowing four runs on seven hits. He struck out seven.
In game two, Ford contributed a pair of doubles. Jones hit a home run. They both drove in a single run. Pannier and sophomore outfielder Brady Holden had a hit each. Holden drove in two runs.
Freshman pitcher Peyton Soria got the first started of his career on the mound for SFCC. He pitched four and one-third innings. He allowed four runs on three hits and struck out five.
"Mineral Area outplayed us in just about every aspect of the game," said Kindle. "We struggled offensively. We are still working hard in practice every day to become a better offensive team. We have to focus on creating quality at-bats and getting on base."
The Roadrunners record currently stands at 8-10, 3-5 in Region 16, 3-5 in the MCCAC.
David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics