Softball game recaps for April 4-5

April 4, North Central Missouri College at Trenton

The Lady Roadrunners traveled to Trenton for a Region 16 doubleheader against the North Central Missouri College Lady Pirates. SFCC (13-19, 4-4 in Region 16) split the doubleheader, winning game one 8-4. The Lady Pirates won game two 10-0 in five innings.

In game one, North Central scored a single run in the bottom of the third inning. SFCC responded with four runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead and added four more in the top of the fifth. North Central added a run in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Sophomore pitcher/outfielder MacKenze Gudde led SFCC offensively with a pair of hits, including a grand slam. Freshman infielder Abby Rector had three hits and an RBI. Freshman utility playerEmily Wilson contributed a pair of hits, a run scored and stole two bases.

Freshman pitcher/first baseman Madison Love went the distance in the circle for SFCC. She scattered eight hits, allowed four runs, three earned, and struck out seven.

"We made some defensive mistakes in game one," said Head Coach Lyndsey Talbot. "Our bats were hot, and we were able to overcome those mistakes."

In game two, North Central pitcher Alex Miller silenced the SFCC bats pitching a no-hitter. Love drew a walk for SFCC, and North Central made an error in the field for the only two SFCC baserunners.

North Central produced plenty of offense scoring three runs in the second inning, one in the third and six runs in the fourth.

Freshman pitcher Macy Buzzanga got the start in game two for SFCC. She pitched 3.2 innings, allowing nine runs, only two of which were earned runs. She took the loss. Gudde came out of the bullpen to record the final out

April 5, St. Louis Community College at Mandy Thomas Field in Centennial Park

SFCC played host to the St. Louis Community College Archers on April 5 in another important Missouri Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader. St. Louis won both games, 10-1 and 11-2 after six innings because of the run rule.

In game one, St. Louis jumped on the scoreboard with four runs in the top of the first inning and added two more in the top of the second. SFCC got its offense going with a run in the bottom of the third. St. Louis tacked on four runs in the top of the sixth inning to finish the scoring.

Love had three hits, two doubles and scored a run for SFCC. Freshman middle infielder Kylie Johnson also had three hits and drove in a run. Catcher/infielder Lauren Watkins, sophomore infielder Mikayla Gustin and freshman outfielder Jacki Watson added a hit each.

Gudde got her first start of the year in the circle for SFCC. She pitched a complete game and took the pitching loss.

In game two, SFCC scored first with a pair of runs. St. Louis answered with a run in the second inning, four runs in the fourth and six runs in the sixth.

Gudde led the SFCC offense with two hits and a run scored, including a double. Watkins had a pair of hits and two runs batted in. Rector and freshman catcher/third baseman Gabi McGinty had a hit each.

Love got the start in circle for SFCC. She pitched 5.1 innings, giving up nine runs, only five earned and striking out three. Buzzanga recorded the final two outs of the game in relief. Love was charged with the loss.

"The girls are struggling with adjusting to different pitching speeds," said Talbot. "Before spring break and before all of the weather, we were able to make the adjustment from fast pitching to slow pitching. Today we just were not able to make the adjustment. We had too many mental errors today as well." 

David Rohrbach

SFCC Athletics