April 9 Mineral Area College at Sedalia
The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Lady Roadrunners softball team hosted Mineral Area College from Park Hills, Missouri on Tuesday, April 9 at Mandy Thomas Field inside Centennial Park. SFCC swept a pair of games 4-3 and 6-5. The games were part of the Missouri Community College Athletic Conference schedule for both teams.
In game one, Jacki Watson of Raytown, Missouri led the offense with a home run and two RBI. Sophomore pitcher/first baseman Madison Love of Holts Summit, Missouri had a pair of hits, including a home run. Freshman catcher/utility player Jordan Fischer contributed two triples and a run scored. Freshman utility player Reagan Hockett of Sedalia, Missouri had a pair of hits and a run scored. Sophomore infielder Abby Rector of Raytown, Missouri drove in a run.
Freshman pitcher/infielder Alissa Collette of Strafford, Missouri got the start in the circle for SFCC. She pitched six innings and gave up three runs; two earned on 10 hits and struck out three.
"There's something about our team," said Lady Roadrunners Head Coach Lyndsey Talbot. "They come out with a lot more energy in the first game. I tried to flip our pitching rotation because there is a natural energy behind Madison (Love). It worked for us earlier in the season so I decided to try it again today."
Freshman pitcher/utility player Abby Rapp of Stewartsville, Missouri recorded the final three outs to pick up the save.
In game two, SFCC came from behind with a walk off triple from sophomore utility player Emily Wilson of Oak Grove, Missouri to get the win.
"Our team knows what to do, I just told them to have some productive at-bats," said Talbot. "Brytni Hummel came up huge for us with a great at-bat, getting hit by the pitch. Emily has been struggling for a while, however; her last two at-bats were more solid. She came up huge with the walk off hit."
Wilson led SFCC offensively with three hits and four runs batted in. She also scored a run. Collette had a pair of hits, including a double and a run batted in. Fischer also drove in a run.
Love went the distance in the circle for SFCC. She gave up five runs, only two of which were earned and struck out 13.
April 11 St. Charles Community College at Sedalia, Missouri
On Thursday, April 11 at Mandy Thomas Field inside Centennial Park SFCC swept a pair of Region 16 and Missouri Community College Athletic Conference games from St. Charles Community College 25-1 and 8-0, both games ended in five innings because of the run rule. The sweep of the doubleheader also set a new program record for wins in a season with 19.
"It means our program is headed in the right direction," said Talbot. "We still have 18 or 20 games remaining in the season. I've had different coaches compliment the girls on the job that they have done on the field."
In game one, Love hit a pair of home runs, drove in seven runs and scored three times. Wilson also hit a home run. Sophomore outfielder Celine Dodson of Pilot Grove, Missouri launched her first collegiate home run. Collette contributed four hits, including a triple. She scored three times and drove in three runs. Wilson had three hits, including a double and scored four times. She also drove in a pair of runs. Watson scored four runs. Rector drove in three runs. As a team, SFCC recorded 18 hits.
Love went the distance in the circle for SFCC. She allowed one unearned run on five hits and struck out 10 to earn the victory.
In game two, SFCC used a different starting lineup.
"We got to mix it up a bit which is nice, because we were able to put a couple players in some different positions and get some players more at-bats," said Talbot.
Collette had a pair of hits, including a triple and drove in three runs. Rector had a pair of hits. Watson scored twice. Dodson and catcher/infielder Lauren Watkins of Columbia, Missouri added a triple each.
Rapp earned the complete game shutout in the circle. She gave up one hit and struck out seven.
April 13 Indian Hills Community College at Ottumwa, Iowa
The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Lady Roadrunners traveled to Ottumwa, Iowa on Saturday, April 13 to take on Indian Hills Community College, losing a pair of games by scores of 2-1 in 10 innings and 7-6.
In the opening game of the doubleheader, SFCC was held to only one run on three hits. Collette contributed a pair of hits, including a double. She also scored a run. Fischer had a hit and a run batted in.
Love went the distance in the circle for SFCC. She allowed two runs; none earned and struck out 11.
In game two, Collette had three more hits, including a home run and a run batted in. Freshman utility player Braleigh Johnson of California, Missouri also hit a home run and drove in two runs. Watson had a good day at the plate with three hits, including a home run. She also drove in two runs and scored one.
Collette tossed a complete game in the circle for SFCC. She gave up seven runs, five earned and struck out five. She was given the pitching loss.
"We played very well in both games," said Talbot. "Game one was more of a pitcher's duel. It was a very exciting game. Game two had a little more offense and both of our pitchers did a fantastic job. Alissa Collette went five for eight at the plate on the day. She was huge for us."
The Lady Roadrunners record currently stands at 19-17 on the season.
David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics