April 12, Jefferson College at Hillsboro, Missouri

The Roadrunners traveled to Hillsboro for a crucial Region 16 doubleheader against Jefferson College Vikings. Jefferson won both games, 14-3 and 16-4, and both ended due to the run rule.

In game one, the Vikings scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning and tacked on four runs in the bottom of the second. SFCC struck back with a run in the top of the fourth. Jefferson answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and added a run in the fifth. SFCC scored two runs in the top of the sixth. Jefferson added four runs in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Freshman catcher/first baseman Kyle Clark and sophomore first baseman Jacob Mitchell registered two hits apiece. Mitchell also launched a home run, drove in a pair of runs and scored twice. Freshman infielder Gavin Jones added a hit and an RBI. Sophomore infielders Kenny Prado and Steven Bradbury registered a hit each.

Freshman pitcher Conner Burnett (4-2) got the start on the mound for SFCC. He pitched two innings, allowing six runs and was tagged with the pitching loss.

In game two, Jefferson got the bats going early with four runs in the bottom of the first inning and added 12 runs in the bottom of the second inning. SFCC scored a run in the top of the third inning and three more in the top of the fifth.

The Roadrunners totaled seven hits as a team in game two. Bradbury hit a home run, and freshman outfielder Hayden Bradford contributed a triple. Freshman utility player Zack Ehlen, Bradbury, Bradford and sophomore catcher Jake Quarti all had an RBI. Prado stole a base.

Sophomore pitcher Josiah Imhoff (3-3) got the start on the mound for SFCC and was the losing pitcher.

April 14, Jefferson College at Dey Field in Liberty Park Stadium

SFCC (26-15, 18-10 in Region 16) played host to the Jefferson College Vikings in another important Region 16 doubleheader. The games took place on a cold and windy Saturday afternoon. Jefferson, once again, swept the doubleheader. Jefferson won the first game in extra innings 3-2 and the second game, which was stopped by the run rule 20-3.

SFCC manufactured a single run in the first inning and added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning to go ahead 2-0. The Vikings got their offense going with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game. SFCC couldn't get anything going in the bottom of the seventh, so the game went into extra innings. Jefferson scored a run in the top of the eighth to take the lead. The SFCC offense could not respond in the bottom of the inning.

SFCC got an outstanding pitching effort from sophomore Jake McMahill. Freshman pitcher Logan Bexten took the loss in relief.

In game two, Jefferson continued their hot hitting and scored three runs in the first inning, three in the second, four in the third inning, and six in the fourth. SFCC got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Vikings scored four runs in the top of the fifth, and SFCC scored a run in the bottom of the fifth. The game ended via the run rule.

"It definitely wasn't our best series," said Head Coach Jud Kindle. "There is a lot of we can learn. We still have to go out and compete and do the little things better. We didn't do that this weekend. Jefferson is the best team that we faced all year from a talent perspective. We made way too many defensive mistakes, and good teams will capitalize on those mistakes. We have to be better."

David Rohrbach

SFCC Athletics