The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Lady Roadrunners (8-8, 0-2 in Region 16, 0-2 in the MCCAC) softball team opened their Region 16 and Missouri Community College Athletic Conference schedules losing a pair of games 8-2 and 11-9 to St. Charles Community College on Tuesday, March 16 in St. Charles.
In game one, the SFCC offense was held to just seven hits, four of which, including a double, came from freshman outfielder Ellie Eckert of Auxvasse. Freshman infielder Kelsey Webb of Oak Grove recorded a double. Sophomore infielder Alexis Gilliland of Jefferson City had a double. Freshman catcher/second baseman Haley Mackey of Lincoln and sophomore middle infielder Summer Collier of Oak Grove drove in one run each. Eckert and Gilliland scored one run each for SFCC.
Sophomore pitcher Aleah Paxton of Lincoln went the distance and gave up eight runs, five earned and struck out four.
In game two, Eckert continued to swing the bat well with three hits, two runs scored and one RBI. Gilliland had a pair of hits, including a double and three RBIs. Freshman third baseman Allie Ferrell of Columbia had a pair of hits, including a double and two RBI. Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Josie Day of Holden registered two hits, including a double and an RBI. Webb had a double and scored twice.
Freshman pitcher Sadie Kumm of Higginsville got the start in the circle and pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowed five runs, four of which were earned and struck out three. Freshman pitcher/first baseman Catrina Ford of Branson earned the loss in relief. Ford pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits.
Gilliland was recently named the NJCAA Division I Softball Player of the Week for the week of March 8 through the 14. Gilliland is the first SFCC softball student-athlete to earn this prestigious honor.
Gilliland had an outstanding week at the plate finishing with a.526 batting average, five home runs, and 14 RBI.
"Most people know about her major injury," said SFCC Softball Head Coach Lyndsey Talbot. "This was her first week back in full competition. She had some nagging injuries. She put together a lot of fantastic at-bats. She was dialed in and came through when we needed her. She had a great day against Johnson County going four for five with back-to-back grand slams. Alexis is a leader for us both on and off the field."
David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics