April 10, Crowder College at Neosho, Missouri
The Lady Roadrunners softball team traveled to Neosho for a key Region 16 doubleheader. Crowder swept SFCC in both games by a score of 8-0.
The Lady Riders scored two runs in the bottom of the first and added one in the second. Crowder blew the game open with five runs in the fourth inning to take control of the game. The game ended after five innings because of the run rule.
Sophomore pitcher/outfielder MacKenze Gudde recorded a pair of hits for SFCC. Freshman utility player Emily Wilson also had a pair of hits and stole a base.
Freshman pitcher/first baseman Madison Love got the start in the circle for SFCC. She went the distance, allowing eight runs, only three of which were earned runs.
In game two, the Lady Riders scored a run in the bottom of the second inning. Crowder added five runs in the bottom of the third. They added a run in the fifth and a run in the sixth to invoke the run rule.
Love, freshman middle infielder Kylie Johnson, Wilson and sophomore middle infielder Mikayla Gustin each had a hit.
Freshman pitcher Macy Buzzanga got the start in circle for SFCC. She pitched 2.1 innings, allowing seven hits and six runs. She was tagged with the loss.
"We struggled defensively in game one against Crowder," said Head Coach Lyndsey Talbot. "We were able to take some steps forward defensively in game two, but we just didn't get anything going offensively. We got runners on, but we couldn't find a way to execute and move them."
April 11, Jefferson College at Mandy Thomas Field in Centennial Park
SFCC took on the Jefferson College Lady Vikings in another key Region 16 doubleheader. Jefferson swept both games by scores of 9-6 and 11-5.
In game one, Jefferson opened the scoring with a single run in the top of the first inning. SFCC responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Jefferson added five runs in the top of the third to retake the lead and added a run in the top of the fourth. SFCC struck back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Each team scored two runs in the fifth inning to close out the scoring.
Love led the SFCC offensive attack with three hits including a double. Johnson had two hits and an RBI. Wilson contributed two hits and an RBI. Freshman catcher/infielder Lauren Watkins had a pair of hits and scored a run. Gustin had two hits and drove in two runs. Freshman outfielder Jacki Watson also drove in two runs. Love stole a base.
Love went the distance in the circle for SFCC. She gave up nine runs, seven earned and struck out five.
In game two, Jefferson scored four runs in the top of the first inning. The Lady Roadrunners responded with two runs. Jefferson tacked on a run in the top of the second and four in the top of the fourth inning to extend the advantage. The Lady Roadrunners responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Jefferson added two runs in the top the sixth. SFCC finished the scoring with a run in the bottom of the sixth and one in the bottom of the seventh.
Love led the offensive attack with four hits, including a pair of home runs. She also drove in three runs and scored twice. Gudde contributed three hits. Freshman infielder Abby Rector contributed a double.
Buzzanga got the start in game two for SFCC. She pitched three innings, allowing five runs, three of which were earned. She was tagged with the pitching loss. Gudde pitched the final four innings in relief. She gave up six runs.
"Our offense showed up big time today," said Talbot. "That is something that we can build on. Jefferson is a good team. We were able to execute offensively and move some runners."
April 12, St. Charles Community College, Cottleville, Missouri
The Lady Roadrunners softball team travel to Cottleville for another important Region 16 doubleheader. SFCC swept a pair of games, 2-0 and 7-4 and snapped a seven-game losing streak.
In game one, SFCC scored a run in the top of the first inning and tacked on one more run in the top the second inning. SFCC made the early offense stand up to secure the victory.
Gudde recorded three hits and a run scored. Love had two hits, one of which was a double and a run batted in. Freshman catcher/infielder Gabi McGinty added a hit and a run scored. Watkins had a pair of hits and delivered a run batted in.
Love went the distance in the circle for SFCC. She scattered five hits and struck out 12 while recording the complete game shutout.
In game two, St. Charles scored first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. SFCC answered with a single run in the top of the second inning. St. Charles tacked on three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-1 lead. SFCC began to chip away at the advantage with one run in the top of the fourth inning and tied the game at four with two runs in the top of the sixth. SFCC added three more runs in the top of the seventh to take a 7-4 lead and kept St. Charles off the scoreboard in the bottom the seventh to earn the victory in game two.
Love led the SFCC offense with four hits including a double and three runs batted in. Watson had a good day at the plate with three hits, two runs scored and two RBIs. Gudde contributed a pair of hits, two runs scored and three RBIs.
Gudde was SFCC's starting pitcher. She pitched five innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out three. Love pitched the final two innings, giving up two hits and striking out three to record the victory.
"These were our fifth and sixth games in three days," said Talbot. "It was nice for our team to be able to get a couple of wins. We were able to keep our offensive production going. Madison answered the challenge in the circle for us. This was only our second sweep of a doubleheader against a region opponent."
April 14, Crowder College at Mandy Thomas Field in Centennial Park
SFCC played host to the Crowder College Lady Riders and was swept by Crowder 10-7 and 16-4. The Lady Roadrunners (15-25, 6-10 in Region 16) honored their sophomores in between games of the doubleheader. Gudde, Gustin, Emily Guyton and Makayla Sivils are the first class to play for two years in the history of the SFCC softball program.
In game one, Crowder scored first with a single run in the top of the third inning. SFCC answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead and tacked on five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend the advantage. Crowder exploded for nine runs in the top of the seventh for the come-from-behind victory.
Gudde had three hits in game one, including a triple. She also drove in two runs and scored one. Gustin had two hits, drove in a run and scored a run. Love drove in two runs and recorded a double. Freshman infielder Abby Rector and Watson scored two runs each. Rector also contributed a double.
Love got the start in circle for SFCC and pitched 6.1 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits. She was given the pitching loss.
In game two, SFCC scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning to take the lead. Crowder answered with three runs in the top of the second inning to take the lead. The Lady Riders scored 11 runs in the top of the third inning. SFCC answered with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Crowder added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning to complete the scoring. The game ended after five innings because of the run rule.
David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics