Love Announces College Decision

State Fair Community College (SFCC) sophomore pitcher/first baseman Madison Love of Holts Summit, Missouri has decided to continue her academic and athletic career at Central Methodist University in Fayette next fall.

"I was looking for a university with a good softball program," said Love. "I also wanted to go somewhere where I can receive a good education. I have wanted to go to Central Methodist University since I was in high school."

Love recently finished a record-setting sophomore campaign where she put her name all over the SFCC softball record book. Love hit .357 as a sophomore, which placed her second on the team in batting average. She led the team in home runs with 12 and RBI with 49. Love led the team in doubles with 11 and had a team-high 55 hits, helping SFCC reach a school record 26 wins.

In the circle for SFCC, Love struck out 257 batters, which placed her first on the team and third in the country. Love finished second in the nation with 10.46 strikeouts per seven innings. Love led the team with 16 wins and a 2.48 earned run average. She tossed 25 complete games in 26 starts during her sophomore campaign. Love also threw the first no-hitter in SFCC program history against Independence Community College on March 10. In that game, Love only needed 72 pitches. She struck out 10 and walked only three batters.

As a sophomore, she earned All-Region 16 first-team as a pitcher as voted on by the coaches

"Madison will be an immediate impact player for Central Methodist," said SFCC Softball Head Coach Lyndsey Talbot. "She will be one of their main pitchers next year."

Love also made an impact during her freshman season at SFCC. She had 59 hits, which placed her second on team as a freshman. She led the team with 14 doubles, hit four home runs and finished second on the team in batting average at .376. Love drove in 36 runs, which was good enough to place her second on the team that year.

As a freshman pitcher, Love struck out 188 batters, recorded eight wins in 28 games (21 complete games and had a 4.38 earned run average).

"My favorite memories of my time at State Fair are all the bonding moments we had together on the bus," said Love.

Love was named All-Region 16 second-team as a utility player her freshman season and named to the Missouri Community College Athletic All-Conference team.

"Madison is the type of player who can fill up a stat sheet, but she also brings the intangibles," said Talbot. "She's always the first one to arrive at practice and the last one to leave. She is a very good teammate and a dream to coach."

Love plans to major in athletic training at Central Methodist.

David Rohrbach

SFCC Athletics