Feb. 14 Iowa Western Community College at Kansas City, Missouri
The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Lady Roadrunners got their 2019 season off to a good start sweeping the 20th ranked team in the NJCAA Division I Softball Preseason Rankings the Iowa Western Community College Lady Reivers 6-4 in eight innings and 6-5 in a pair of walk-off wins. The games took place on Thursday, Feb. 14 at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri.
In game one, the Lady Reivers got on scoreboard with a single run in the top of the first inning. They added another run in the top of the fourth inning and scored again in the top of the sixth inning. SFCC scored in the bottom the sixth inning. SFCC would add a pair of runs to tie the game at three in the bottom the seventh. Iowa Western took the lead once again with a single run in the top of the eighth, but SFCC scored three runs in the bottom the eighth inning capped by a walk-off single from sophomore utility player Emily Wilson of Oak Grove, Missouri.
"We told the team not to beat themselves up over the first couple of at-bats," said Lady Roadrunners Softball Head Coach Lyndsey Talbot. "We hadn't seen other pitching; we hadn't been on the field in a live game situation. The first time and a half through the lineup it didn't look that pretty. Our hitters definitely responded in about the fifth or sixth inning and they started putting the bat on the ball."
Sophomore pitcher/first baseman Madison Love of Holts Summit, Missouri had a pair of hits in game one, including a solo home run and two runs scored. Freshman catcher Jordan Fischer of New Florence, Missouri hit a game-tying home run in her first collegiate game. She drove in a pair of runs and Wilson also drove in two runs. Sophomore outfielder Jacki Watson of Raytown, Missouri added a double.
Love went the distance in the circle for SFCC. She allowed four runs, two earned on eight hits. She struck out eight to pick up the victory.
In game two, SFCC (2-0) jumped on the scoreboard first with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Iowa Western tied the game at three in the top of the fifth inning. Both teams scored a pair of runs in the sixth inning. SFCC scored a run in the bottom the seventh to pick up another walk-off win.
Watson contributed two hits and an RBI. Sophomore Abby Rector of Raytown, Missouri had a pair of hits and a run scored. Freshman utility player Braleigh Johnson of California, Missouri hit her first career home run in the contest. Freshman outfielder Liz Nimmer of Warrensburg, Missouri also launched her first career home run. Johnson and Nimmer drove in two runs each.
Freshman pitcher/infielder Alissa Collette of Strafford, Missouri got her first career started in the circle for SFCC. She pitched 4.1 innings, allowing three runs. Freshman pitcher/utility player Abby Rapp of Stewartsville, Missouri picked up the win pitching 2.2 innings. She allowed two runs, one earned, and struck out one.
"I told the team that these are two games to be happy about, but it's only two games in a season of 60," said Talbot. "I told them to enjoy it, but this is only the beginning of the season."
David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics