Baseball game recaps for Feb. 26- March 3

Feb. 26, Highland Community College-Kansas at Dey Field in Liberty Park Stadium

The Roadrunners took the field in game action for the first time in over a week and defeated Highland Community College-Kansas 8-4 in a single nine-inning game.

 
The Roadrunners got the offense started early scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning and two more in the second inning. Highland got on the scoreboard with four runs in the top of the fourth inning. SFCC finished the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.

 
Sophomore utility player Zack Ehlen and sophomore infielder Chase Swisher recorded two hits each. Ehlen also scored two runs and stole a base. Swisher scored two runs, and freshman outfielder P.J. Esposito knocked in two runs, scored twice and registered a triple. Sophomore outfielder Tyler Crane stole two bases.

 
Sophomore pitcher Chase Plymell (2-1) got the start on the mound. He pitched 3.1 innings, allowed four runs and struck out four to pick up the victory.

Feb. 27, Hesston College at Dey Field in Liberty Park Stadium

The Roadrunners split a doubleheader against Hesston College from Hesston, Kansas. SFCC won the first game 15-5. Hesston won game two 9-8.

 
In game one, each team scored a run in the first inning. SFCC broke the game open with six runs in the bottom of the second inning. Hesston responded with two runs in the top of the third. SFCC tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the third and put the game away with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

 
Freshman catcher/first baseman Kyle Clark had a big offensive game in the first contest. He had two hits including a double, drove in five runs and scored once. Ehlen registered two hits, one of which was a double, scored three times and had two RBIs. Esposito and Crane scored three runs each.

 
Freshman pitcher Logan Bexton (2-1) got the start and the victory for SFCC. He pitched four innings and struck out two.

 
In game two, each team scored a run in the first inning. SFCC added three runs in the bottom of the third inning, followed by one in the fourth and two in fifth. Hesston scored five runs in the sixth and three in the seventh. SFCC attempted to come back in the bottom of the seventh scoring a single run.

 
Crane had three hits in game two for SFCC along with a run scored and an RBI. Ehlen had two hits including a solo home run. Freshman pitcher/first baseman Jacob Mitchell had two hits and two runs scored. Sophomore catcher Derek Shikles had two hits, an RBI and a run scored.

 
Freshman pitcher Branden Eickhorst got the start and pitched four innings, giving up five hits, one earned run and striking out six. Sophomore pitcher Brett Wilbanks (0-1) took the loss in relief, pitching 1 1/3 innings.

March 1, Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods at Kansas City

The Roadrunners opened Region 16 play on March 1 in Kansas City against the Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods Monarchs. SFCC won the first game 20-0 and the second game 18-9, which was suspended and finished in Sedalia on Saturday before the regularly scheduled doubleheader.

 
In the first game, the Roadrunners scored four runs in the top of the first inning and tacked on eight runs in the top of the second inning to put the game out of reach. SFCC added two runs in the third, four in the fourth and two in the fifth. The game ended after five innings because of the run rule.

Freshman infielder Gavin Jones led SFCC offensively in game one with three hits, two runs scored and two RBIs. Esposito contributed two hits, three runs scored and two RBIs. Sophomore infielder Steven Bradbury had two hits and three RBIs. Swisher had two hits. Mitchell hit a home run and drove in four runs. Clark drove in two runs. Mitchell, Clark and Crane each scored four times in the game. Esposito scored three runs.

Freshman pitcher Conner Burnett (1-1) got the start for SFCC and pitched four scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out six to earn the victory. Sophomore pitcher Gage Crews pitched one inning, allowing one hit and striking out one to finish the game.

In game two, the Roadrunners offense exploded for 18 runs on 20 hits. Crane registered five hits, two RBIs and stole two bases. Esposito registered three hits, including a triple and three runs scored. Mitchell registered three hits, including a home run, two RBIs and four runs scored. Clark hit a home run and drove in three runs. Bradbury also had a home run and drove in three runs. Ehlen and Swisher stole three bases each.

Sophomore pitcher Josiah Imhoff (1-1) got the start for SFCC. He pitched four innings, giving up five runs on five hits and striking out two. He was credited with the victory.

March 3, Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods at Dey Field in Liberty Park Stadium

The Roadrunners (9-5, 4-0 in Region 16) played host to MCC-Maple Woods Monarchs in another Region 16 doubleheader. SFCC swept the games, winning 12-2 and 10-7.

In game one, SFCC opened the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Maple Woods responded with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. The Roadrunners blew the game open with nine runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Ehlen had two doubles in game one. He scored twice and drove in three runs. Esposito and Clark drove in two runs each.

Plymell (3-1) was the starting pitcher and earned the victory tossing 4.1 innings, allowing two runs, no earned runs on seven hits and striking out seven.

In game two, Maple Woods scored three runs in the top of the first inning and added one in the top of the second inning. SFCC got their offense going with a run in the bottom of the second inning and two in the third. SFCC added four runs in the fifth and three in the sixth. The Monarchs rallied in the top of the seventh with three runs, but they came up short.

Swisher led SFCC offensively with two doubles and three runs scored. Ehlen hit a home run, scored three times and drove in two runs. Esposito and Clark drove in two runs each. Esposito also stole two bases.

Sophomore pitcher Jake McMahill (2-0) got the start on the mound and recorded the victory, tossing six innings, allowing four runs – only one earned, and striking out 11.

"We're starting to do a better job in all three aspects of the game," said Head Coach Jud Kindle. "Our approaches at the plate have been good over the past couple weeks. The adjustments that we have made seem to be working."

David Rohrbach

SFCC Athletics