April 2 Metropolitan Community College at Sedalia
The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Lady Roadrunners softball team swept an important Region 16 doubleheader by scores of 7-5 and 16-1 on Tuesday, April 2 over the Metropolitan Community College Wolves at Mandy Thomas Field inside Centennial Park.
In game one, sophomore pitcher/first baseman Madison Love of Holts Summit, Missouri had a pair of hits, including a double and two RBI. Freshman outfielder Liz Nimmer of Warrensburg, Missouri launched a home run and drove in a pair of runs. Sophomore catcher/infielder Lauren Watkins of Columbia, Missouri also hit a home run in game one. Freshman utility player Reagan Hockett of Sedalia, Missouri had a pair of hits and a run scored. Freshman catcher/utility player Jordan Fischer of New Florence, Missouri also drove in a run.
Love went the distance in the circle for SFCC. She allowed five runs, three of which were earned and struck out 12 in the game.
"Madison always gives us a chance when she is in the circle," said Lady Roadrunners Softball Head Coach Lyndsey Talbot. "Metropolitan Community College made some adjustments at the plate late in the game and it showed. We kind of let them back in the game defensively, but our team did what it needed to do. Sometimes you have to grind out wins in the Region."
SFCC recorded 16 runs on 14 hits in game two, which ended after five innings because of the run rule.
Hockett recorded four hits for SFCC, including a double and three RBI. She also scored three times. Fischer had three hits including two doubles. She drove in two runs and scored two of her own. Love added two hits, including a double, one RBI and two runs scored. Nimmer scored three runs. Watkins added two hits and four RBI. Sophomore infielder Abby Rector of Raytown, Missouri scored a pair of runs. Sophomore utility player Emily Wilson of Oak Grove, Missouri had two hits, including a double. She also drove in three runs and scored two. Freshman outfielder Presley Floyd of Strafford, Missouri drove in a pair of runs.
"I challenged our team not to be satisfied when we jumped ahead early in game two," said Talbot.
Freshman pitcher/infielder Alissa Collette of Strafford, Missouri went the distance in the circle for SFCC in game two. She allowed one run on four hits and struck out six.
"Alissa threw the ball very well," said Talbot. "She did not throw a ball on her first pitch until the fifth inning. That is huge for a ground ball pitcher like her."
April 5 St. Louis Community College at St. Louis, Missouri
The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Lady Roadrunners traveled to St. Louis on Friday, April 5 for a Missouri Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader. SFCC lost the first game by a score of 3-2 and 11-0 in the second game in five innings. St. Louis Community College is receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Division II Softball Rankings
SFCC scored two runs in the top of the third inning in game one. St. Louis scored a single run in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the bottom of the seventh, winning the game on a walk-off hit.
Love led the SFCC offense with a pair of hits, including a home run. She drove in a run and scored a run. Watkins recorded two hits and an RBI. Wilson contributed a hit and a run scored. Fischer and sophomore outfielder Celine Dodson of Pilot Grove, Missouri had a hit each in game one.
Love went the distance in the circle for SFCC, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out seven.
"We played very well in the first game," said Talbot. "We need to do a better job of making each out a productive out. That caught up with us in the bottom of the seventh inning."
In game two, the SFCC offense was held to only one hit, a double from Wilson. SFCC drew three walks and struck out four times as a team in game two.
Collette got the start in the circle for SFCC. She pitched three innings and allowed six runs; four earned and struck out one. She took the loss.
"Alissa pitched well, it was one of those games where everything went their way," said Talbot.
April 7 Crowder College at Sedalia, Missouri
SFCC took on the Crowder Lady Riders, the 16th-ranked team in the NJCAA Division I Softball Rankings, in a Region 16 doubleheader on Sunday, April 7 at Mandy Thomas Field inside Centennial Park. SFCC lost both contests by scores of 4-1 and 5-0.
In game one, the SFCC offense was held to just three hits. Hockett had a double and a run scored. Love and Rector provided a hit each for SFCC. Love drove in the only run for SFCC.
Love went the distance in the circle for the Lady Roadrunners. She gave up four runs on seven hits and struck out six.
"Crowder is always a very fundamentally sound team," said Talbot. "We knew it was going to be a battle. It comes down to us not putting the bat on the ball enough. We struck out way too many times."
In game two, Crowder held SFCC to only three hits. Hockett had a hit in game two, along with Fischer and Rector.
Collette got the start in the circle for SFCC. She pitched four innings, allowed five runs on six hits. Freshman pitcher/utility player Abby Rapp of Stewartsville, Missouri pitched the final three innings. She allowed two hits and struck out one.
"Alissa did what we needed her to do," said Talbot. "It was a 2-0 game for a long time and we just didn't have good at-bats. Offensively, we need to do a better job of putting good at-bats together."
The Lady Roadrunners record currently stands at 15-15 on the season.
David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics