April 16 Three Rivers Community College at Sedalia
The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Lady Roadrunners made program history on Tuesday, April 16 when they upset the 20th ranked Three Rivers Community College Lady Raiders at Mandy Thomas Field by a score of 3-2. Prior to this victory, SFCC had never beaten a nationally ranked opponent.
The Lady Roadrunners split the double header, losing game two 11-3 in six innings.
"It is big for us to get a win over a ranked team," said Lady Roadrunners Softball Head Coach Lyndsey Talbot." I'm very proud of our team in the way they competed; being able to finish out a game like that is huge."
Freshman utility player Reagan Hockett of Sedalia and sophomore outfielder Jacki Watson of Raytown each had a pair of hits with doubles for both. Hockett also scored a pair of runs. Freshman pitcher/infielder Alissa Collette of Strafford, Missouri had a double and two RBI. Sophomore outfielder Celine Dodson of Pilot Grove registered a hit. Freshman catcher/utility player Jordan Fischer of New Florence laid down a squeeze bunt to push across what would prove to be the game-winning run.
"Last time we played Three Rivers, we had way too many strikeouts," said Talbot. "The message to our team was to put the ball in play and good things will happen. It was nice to be able to get some runs behind Madison. We are in every game that she pitches, it just comes down to whether or not we can execute offensively and defensively. We finally were able to do that."
Sophomore pitcher/first baseman Madison Love of Holts Summit, Missouri picked up the win in a complete game in the circle for SFCC. She scattered four hits. Love allowed four hits, two runs; one earned and struck out five.
In game two, Love led the SFCC offense with a pair of hits, including a double and two runs batted in. Hockett had a hit and a run scored. Collette had a hit, a run scored and a run batted in. Watson also had a double in game two.
Freshman pitcher/utility player Abby Rapp of Stewartsville got the start in the circle for SFCC. She pitched 2 and one-third innings and allowed five runs, only two of which were earned and struck out one. She was given the pitching loss.
"That was not an ideal performance," said Talbot. "But, don't let that take away from the fact that we just beat a ranked team. We had never done that before."
April 17 Jefferson College Hillsboro, Missouri
SFCC lost a pair of 9-1 games that ended early because of the run rule to the Jefferson College Lady Vikings on Wednesday, April 17. The games were part of the Region 16 and Missouri Community College Athletic Conference schedule for both teams.
In game one, sophomore utility player Emily Wilson of Oak Grove had a pair of hits, including a double to lead the SFCC offense. She also drove in a run. Collette, freshman utility player Braleigh Johnson of California, Missouri, Fischer and sophomore infielder Abby Rector of Raytown all registered a hit each in the game. Hockett scored the only run of the game for SFCC.
"Our offense seems to struggle on the road," said Assistant Coach Michele Rupard. "We had baserunners on base early in innings; however, we only scored one run."
Love took the loss in the circle for SFCC. She pitched five innings, gave up eight runs, five of which were earned on eight hits and struck out seven.
"Jefferson was prepared for Madison," said Rupard. "We were in some situations that we shouldn't have been in because our defense struggled."
In game two, the SFCC offense was held to just four hits. Rector hit a homerun for SFCC. Fischer contributed a double. Hockett and Love also had hits for SFCC.
"We just didn't have very good at bats in game two," said Rupard.
Collette went the distance in the circle for SFCC. She allowed nine runs, only six of which were earned and was tagged with the pitching loss.
The Lady Roadrunners record currently stands at 20-20 on the season.
David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics