March 6, North Arkansas College at Lebanon, Missouri
The Lady Roadrunners traveled to Lebanon for a neutral site doubleheader against the North Arkansas College Lady Pioneers from Harrison, Arkansas. SFCC won the first game 12-2 in five innings. The second game of the doubleheader was postponed.
SFCC got on the scoreboard first with two runs in the top of the first inning and added three in the second, five in the third, and one run in the fourth. North Arkansas responded with one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Both teams scored a run in the fifth inning to finish the scoring.
SFCC pounded out 17 hits in the game. Sophomore pitcher/outfielder MacKenze Gudde led the Lady Roadrunners offensively with two hits, three RBIs, two runs scored, and a home run. Sophomore catcher/infielder Emily Guyton had two hits and a run scored. Freshman outfielderTaylor Farmer had two hits, including a double, and drove in a run. Freshman utility player Emily Wilson registered two RBIs. Freshman infielder Abby Rector added two hits and two RBIs. Freshman catcher/infielder Lauren Watkins pitched in two hits, a run scored and two stolen bases. Freshman catcher/infielder Tessia Balke knocked in a pair of runs. Freshman outfielder Jacki Watson had two hits and two runs scored.
Freshman pitcher/first baseman Madison Love went the distance in the circle for the Lady Roadrunners. She scattered six hits, while allowing two runs, no earned runs and striking out nine.
March 8, North Central Missouri College at Sedalia
The Lady Roadrunners opened up the Region 16 portion of their schedule against the North Central Missouri College Lady Pirates from Trenton, Missouri. SFCC swept the doubleheader 5-4 and 11-7.
In game one, North Central scored three runs in the top of the first inning. SFCC responded with a single run and two more runs in the second inning to tie the game at three. SFCC scored another run in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead. North Central tied the game in the top of the sixth. The Lady Roadrunners won the game in walk-off fashion with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Love led SFCC offensively with three hits, a home run and two RBIs. Wilson had three hits, an RBI and a run scored. Freshman infielder Kylie Johnson contributed two hits and an RBI.
Love started in circle for SFCC. She pitched five innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. Freshman pitcher Macy Buzzanga picked up the win in relief. She pitched two innings, allowing one unearned run on five hits.
In game two, each team scored a run in the first inning. SFCC got the offense going with four runs in the second inning. North Central added one run in the top of the third inning. SFCC tacked on six runs in the bottom of the fourth to take an 11-2 lead after three innings. North Central began to chip away at the advantage with two runs in the fifth inning and three in the sixth, but that was as close as they would get.
Love had another good game at the plate for the Lady Roadrunners. She had three hits, three RBIs and a run scored. Freshman catcher/infielder Gabi McGinty contributed two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Rector had two hits, a home run, four RBIs, and two runs scored. Freshman infielder Brytni Hummel drove in a pair of runs.
Buzzanga was the starting pitcher for SFCC. She picked up the victory tossing five innings, allowing four runs, three earned runs on six hits, and struck out three. Love pitched the final two innings, allowing three runs and striking out three.
"We talked to the team about how important region play is," said Head Coach Lyndsey Talbot. "In game one, Lauren Watkins came up with a walk-off hit for us. She struggled in a couple of at-bats during the game and then was pinch-hit for. She came back into the game in the bottom of the seventh and delivered a big hit. That's about as good as it can get for a player who was struggling at the plate earlier in the game … that was a pretty good doubleheader for everyone."
March 9, Central Methodist University Junior Varsity at Fayette
SFCC traveled to Fayette, Missouri, for a doubleheader against the CMU Junior Varsity. SFCC swept both games 8-5 and 9-4.
In game one, CMU scored one run in the bottom of the third inning and added four in the bottom of the fifth. SFCC got the offense going in the top of the sixth inning with a single run, and then they exploded for seven runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Wilson led SFCC's offense with four hits, and she drove in two runs. Watkins had three hits. McGinty drove in three runs.
Love pitched six innings for SFCC, allowing five runs on nine hits, while striking out 11. Gudde pitched one inning in relief to pick up the victory; she struck out one.
In game two, CMU scored a run in the bottom of the first inning. SFCC answered with two runs in the top of the third and tacked on three runs in the top of the fifth inning. CMU responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. SFCC added four in the top of the sixth inning. CMU added one in the bottom of the inning.
Gudde registered four hits with a run scored, an RBI and three stolen bases. Johnson registered three hits, an RBI and a run scored. Rector had two hits and two runs scored. Watson had two hits, a home run and four RBIs.
Buzzanga got the start in the circle for SFCC. She pitched five innings, allowing three runs, no earned runs and struck out five. Love pitched the final two innings.
March 10, Iowa Western Community College at Council Bluffs
SFCC (8-9, 2-0 Region 16) took on IWCC in a doubleheader and was swept 2-0 and 4-0.
In game one, Iowa Western scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning and held State Fair to just three hits in game. Gudde, Johnson and Watson had one hit each for SFCC.
Love pitched six innings, allowing five hits and two runs.
In game two, Iowa Western scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning and two more in the bottom of the third.
Wilson recorded a hit for SFCC. Freshman infielder Brytni Hummel had a hit along with Rector and Watson.
Buzzanga pitched six innings, allowing five hits and four runs.
David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics