March 10 Indian Hills Community College at Mandy Thomas Field
The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Lady Roadrunners split a doubleheader against the ninth-ranked Indian Hills Community College winning the first game 7-4 before losing game two in extra innings 5-3 on Wednesday, March 10 at Mandy Thomas Field.
In game one, freshman outfielder Ellie Eckert of Auxvasse had three hits, two of which were doubles, a run batted in and a run scored. Sophomore middle infielder Summer Collier of Oak Grove added two hits, three RBI, and a run scored. Freshman infielder Kelsey Webb of Oak Grove also drove in a run.
Sophomore pitcher Aleah Paxton of Lincoln got the start and the win in the circle for SFCC. Paxton went 5 1/3 innings and gave up seven hits, four runs (three earned) and struck out one. Freshman pitcher Tabitha Imhoff of Jefferson City pitched the final 1 2/3 innings to finish the game. Imhoff allowed two hits.
In game two, SFCC got a pair of hits from freshman catcher/second baseman Haley Mackey of Lincoln and sophomore infielder Alexis Gilliland of Jefferson City. Gilliland and Sophomore catcher/third baseman Brooke Conner of Sweet Springs, both hit home runs.
Freshman pitcher Sadie Kumm of Higginsville went the distance in the circle for SFCC. Kumm allowed five runs, four of which were earned on six hits and struck out four.
March 12 Southeastern Community College at West Burlington, Iowa
SFCC split a doubleheader against Southeastern Community College on Friday, March 12 dropping the first game 6-4 before bouncing back to win game two 10-3 in West Burlington, Iowa.
In game one, Gilliland had a pair of hits, including a double and a run scored. Freshman infielder/outfielder Kailee Liles of Lee's Summit had two hits, including a home run. Collier also had two hits and drove in two runs.
Paxton went the distance in the circle for SFCC. She allowed five runs, four of which were earned and struck out four.
In game two, the SFCC offense exploded for 12 hits. Eckert had three hits, including a triple and a run scored. Gilliland had two home runs and drove in four. Liles had a pair of hits, including a home run and three RBI. Kumm got the start in the circle for SFCC. Kumm pitched three innings, allowed one run on five hits, and struck out two. Sophomore pitcher/first baseman Catrina Ford of Branson pitched two innings. Ford gave up two runs on three hits. Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Josie Day of Holden finished the game in the circle for SFCC. Day allowed two hits and struck out three.
March 13 Johnson County Community College at Ottumwa, Iowa
SFCC defeated Johnson County Community College 18-15 on Saturday, March 13 in Ottumwa, Iowa, a neutral site for both teams.
The SFCC offense continued to swing the bats well with 18 runs on 18 hits. Gilliland led the SFCC offense with four hits, including two home runs and nine runs batted in. Gilliland also scored four times. Liles also hit a home run and drove in two runs. Eckert had four hits and scored four times. Webb also had four hits, including a double, scored three runs and drove in two. Mackey scored three runs and drove in three. Conner scored a pair of runs.
Paxton tossed a complete game in the circle and struck out six.
March 13 Ellsworth Community College at Ottumwa, Iowa
SFCC (8-6) dropped the final game of the day 6-3 to Ellsworth Community College on Saturday, March 13 in Ottumwa, Iowa. This game was also played at a neutral site.
Webb hit a home run and drove in three. Eckert had three hits, including a double and a run scored. Day had two hits and a run scored.
Kumm got the start in the circle for SFCC, pitching five innings. She allowed five runs, only two of which were earned on six hits. Imhoff pitched the final inning for SFCC. She allowed one earned run on two hits.
David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics