SFCC Softball Recaps April 22-27

April 22 North Central Missouri College at Sedalia, Missouri

The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Lady Roadrunners hosted the North Central Missouri College Pirates in a critical Region 16 doubleheader at Mandy Thomas Field inside Centennial Park on Monday April 22; SFCC split the doubleheader, losing the first game 9-1 in six innings before bouncing back to defeat North Central 5-4 in come-from-behind fashion in game two.

"Our ability to earn that split could be monumental in terms of Region seeding," said Lady Roadrunners Softball Head Coach Lyndsey Talbot.

In game one, the SFCC offense was held to one run on two hits. Freshman pitcher/infielder Alissa Collette of Strafford, Missouri contributed a double. Sophomore pitcher/first baseman Madison Love of Holts Summit, Missouri hit a triple and scored a run. She also drew a walk. Freshman utility player Braleigh Johnson of California, Missouri drove in the only run of the game for SFCC.

Love got the start in the circle for SFCC. She went the distance, allowing nine runs, seven of which were earned on 12 hits. She struck out eight and was given the pitching loss.

In game two, Collette had three hits. She also scored a run and drove in a run. Freshman utility player Reagan Hockett of Sedalia, had a pair of hits, including a double and scored a pair of runs, one of which proved to be the game-winner. Love contributed two hits, a run and an RBI. Sophomore middle infielder Brytni Hummel of Garden City, Missouri also registered a double and two RBI. Sophomore outfielder Jacki Watson of Raytown, Missouri blasted the game tying solo home run in the bottom the sixth inning,

"We were able to settle in offensively and learn from the at-bats of teammates and the mistakes we made in game one. "

Collette got the start in the circle for SFCC. She pitched six innings. Collette gave up four runs, only one of which was earned and struck out two to earn the victory. Love slammed the door in the top the seventh. She allowed one hit and struck out one to earn the save.

April 24 Metropolitan Community College at Kansas City, Missouri

SFCC swept the Metropolitan Community College Wolves on Wednesday, April 24 in a Region 16 doubleheader by scores of 14-2 and 24-3, both games ended after five innings because of the run rule.

In game one, the SFCC offense scored 14 runs on 11 hits. Watson hit a pair of home runs, scored three runs, and drove in three. Sophomore utility player Emily Wilson of Oak Grove, Missouri had a pair of hits, two RBI, and two runs. Freshman outfielder Liz Nimmer of Warrensburg, had two hits, two runs batted in, and scored twice. Sophomore infielder Abby Rector of Raytown, Missouri contributed two hits and two RBI. Hockett, Collette, Wilson, and Nimmer all scored two runs each.

Love went the distance in the circle for SFCC. She allowed two runs on five hits and struck out 11 in the victory.

In game two, the bats stayed hot for SFCC as they scored 24 runs on 20 hits. Collette led the offensive onslaught. She crushed three home runs, one of which was a grand slam, and drove in seven runs. She also scored four times.

"Alissa has come alive in the past two or three weeks," said Talbot. "She is batting close to .700 in the past couple of weeks. She is also the first player in our program history to hit three home runs in one game."

Nimmer had three hits, scored three runs, and drove in three runs. Rector added three hits, scored twice, and drove in three runs. Hockett had a two-hit game and scored three runs. Love hit a home run, scored twice, and drove in three runs. Watson had a pair of hits and scored three runs. Wilson had a pair of hits and scored three runs. Freshman catcher/utility player Jordan Fischer of New Florence, Missouri drove in two runs. Sophomore pitcher/infielder Macy Buzzanga of Knob Noster, Missouri and Johnson drove in two runs each.

Freshman pitcher/utility player Abby Rapp of Stewartsville, Missouri got the start and the win for SFCC in the circle. She pitched four innings and allowed three runs, none earned.

"I was very happy with the way our team played both games," said Talbot. "Not just offensively, I also liked the energy our team brought in both games. We were able to score a couple runs early in the games and that helped with our energy."

April 26 East Central College at Sedalia, Missouri

The State Fair Community College (SFCC) softball team swept a Missouri Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader from the East Central College Falcons from Union, Missouri by scores of 6-2 and 3-2 on Friday, April 26 at Mandy Thomas Field inside Centennial Park.

In game one, Watson led the SFCC offense with three hits, including a home run. She also scored a run and drove in a run. Wilson had two hits and two runs scored. Fischer had a home run and drove in three runs. Rector had a pair of hits and two runs batted in. Nimmer scored a pair of runs.

Love tossed a complete game in the circle for SFCC. She allowed two runs; one earned on six hits and struck out 12 to pick up the victory.

"Anytime you have Madison in the circle and score six runs, you always feel pretty confident," said Talbot. "But, we want to score in every inning."

In game two, Watson and Rector had two hits each. Watson had a pair of doubles and two runs batted in and stole one base. Rector had a double and two runs scored. Sophomore catcher/infielder Lauren Watkins of Columbia, Missouri contributed a hit. Hockett scored a run and stole two bases.

"We couldn't make an adjustment to their pitcher in game two," said Talbot. "She threw a lot of off-speed stuff. Luckily, Jacki and Abby came through or it might've been a completely different game."

Collette got the start in the circle for SFCC. She went the distance. Collette allowed two runs; none earned and struck out one to pick up the victory.

SFCC used a pair of nice defensive plays to close out the game.

"It was huge to end a day were we didn't play as well as we wanted to with a nice defensive play," said Talbot.

April 27 Jefferson College at Sedalia

On April 27, the SFCC softball team wrapped up their Region 16 and Missouri Community College Athletic Conference schedule by splitting a doubleheader with the Jefferson College Lady Vikings from Hillsboro, Missouri. Jefferson is receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Division I Softball Rankings.

SFCC made some program history in game one defeating the Lady Vikings 1-0. This marks the first time that the Lady Roadrunners have defeated Jefferson in program history before falling 17-7 in five innings in game two.

"This was a huge victory, especially going into the Region Tournament," said Talbot. "We have now beaten every single team in the Region except for Crowder this year. We had Crowder on their heels until the sixth inning. This should give our team the motivation and confidence that we can win the Region Tournament."

Watson provided all the offense that SFCC would need in game one, when she drove a home run over the left-field fence.

"She has been seeing the ball very well," said Talbot. "She came back from an injury and had a little bit of a slump. She has been hammering the ball in the past six games."

Love and Collette had the other two hits for SFCC in game one.

Love got the start in the circle. She pitched a complete game shutout giving up four hits and striking out nine.

"Madison pitched very well," said Talbot. "She has been on point with the mental portion of her game."

SFCC honored their sophomore class between games of the doubleheader.

In game two, Hockett had a pair of hits and two runs batted in. Rector also had a pair of hits, one of which was a double. She scored two runs and drove in one. Watkins also scored two runs.

Collette got the start in game two for SFCC. She pitched 2 and two-thirds innings, allowing 13 runs, only three of which were earned and was given the loss.

"I don't think our pitcher was completely warmed up because of the sophomore festivities and it showed," said Talbot. "I told the team that the nine spot we gave them the first inning was a game changer."

SFCC's record currently stands at 26-22.

David Rohrbach

SFCC Athletics