Lady Roadrunners win two, lose four

April 11 - East Central College at Union

The Lady Roadrunners softball team split a pair of games against East Central College, winning game one 16-7 and dropping game two 2-0 in Union on Tuesday, April 10. The doubleheader was part of the Missouri Community College Athletic Conference schedule.

In game one, the SFCC offense pounded out 19 hits, including a double and two home runs. Freshman catcher Paige Klinge led the SFCC offensive attack with four hits, three RBIs and a run scored. Sophomore pitcher/first baseman Alexis Hughes had three hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Freshman third baseman/outfielder Zoey DeHaas added three hits, including a double, two RBIs,and two runs scored. Freshman outfielder Jaelyn Winfrey had two hits, a run scored and an RBI. Freshman first baseman Paige Clines had two hits, including a home run, five RBIs, and three runs scored. Sophomore third baseman Kailei Allen had two hits, including a home run, two RBIs, and a run scored. Sophomore outfielder Tomi Lightle added two hits and two runs scored.

Freshman Charlee Reese got the start in the circle for SFCC. Reese pitched 5 1/3 innings, gave up seven runs (five earned runs) on seven hits, struck out six ,and walked one. Sophomore Kaycee Thompson pitched 1 2/3 innings, walked one and struck out one.

In game two, the SFCC offense was held to just three hits. Sophomore second baseman Kelsey Webb, Clines and freshman shortstop Samantha Picha each recorded a hit.

Hughes went the distance in the circle for SFCC. Hughes gave up two runs on four hits, struck out three and walked one.

April 13 - Jefferson College at Sedalia

SFCC fell 1-0 and 9-2 to Jefferson College at Mandy Thomas Field in Sedalia on Thursday, April 13. The doubleheader was part of the Region 16 schedule.

The first game was controlled by the pitchers. Jefferson scored the only run in the top of the first inning. SFCC had chances, leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The SFCC offense was held to only four hits. Webb had two hits. Winfrey and Allen each had a hit.

Sophomore Kennidi Harris went the distance in the circle for SFCC. Harris allowed one unearned run on eight hits and struck out two in the game.

"I'm not sure how many runners we left on base; we definitely had our chances," said Lady Roadrunners Head Coach Michele Rupard. "We have been struggling to get runs across the plate unless the ball goes over the fence. The pitcher from Jefferson was really good. I thought Kennidi Harris pitched well again for us. It is a good time of the year for her to start to get into a pitching groove."

In game two, the SFCC offense produced two hits and walked three times as a team. Klinge led the offense with a home run and two RBIs. Webb and Winfrey each had a hit.

Freshman Grace VanDenburgh got the start in the circle for SFCC. VanDenburgh pitched 4 1/3 innings, gave up five runs (four earned runs) on eight hits, struck out one, and walked one. Reese came out of the bullpen to pitch the final 2 2/3 innings, gave up four runs on five hits, struck out two and walked one.

"We started out pretty slow in game two," said Rupard. "Offensively, we didn't make adjustments early enough in the game. It is difficult to win games when you only score two runs. We have to get better offensively. We have to figure out a way to get runners across the plate. We have a very important weekend of region games coming up."

April 14 - North Central Missouri College at Sedalia

SFCC (10-20, 4-10. In Region 16) split a pair of Region 16 contests, winning the first game 9-1 in five innings before dropping game two 8-4 against North Central Missouri College at Mandy Thomas Field inside Centennial Park on Friday, April 14.

In game one, SFCC broke open a tie game in the bottom of the fifth, scoring eight runs in the inning to secure the run rule victory.

"We had some really competitive bats in the fifth inning," said Rupard. "We were able to feed off each other's competitive energy, and that led to some balls being hit really hard."

Webb had two hits and a run scored in the game. Lightle had two hits and a run scored. Picha hit a home run, drove in two runs and scored twice. DeHaas hit a double and drove in two runs. Klinge and Allen each drove in two runs.

Harris went the distance once again for SFCC in the circle, gave up five hits and one unearned run, struck out one and walked one.

"Kennidi pitched another great game," said Rupard. "She's locating the ball well, which is good. She seems a little bit more relaxed, and the defense is making plays behind her."

In game two, Allen had two hits, including a double and an RBI. Sophomore utility player Kailee Liles had two hits, including a triple and an RBI. Winfrey hit a home run and drove in a pair of runs.

"We had a big inning in the fourth when we scored four runs," said Rupard. "North Central was able to string a bunch of hits together. We walked the leadoff hitter, which ended up going back to bite us. We gave them more opportunities than they needed."

Thompson got the start in the circle for SFCC. Thompson pitched four innings, gave up two runs, one earned run on three hits. Reese came out to pitch one inning, gave up five runs, three earned runs on four hits. VanDenburgh pitched the final two innings and gave up one unearned run on four hits.

David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics