SFCC earns Sub Regional sweep

April 24 North Central Missouri College at Trenton

The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Lady Roadrunners softball team lost a pair of Region 16 contests to North Central Missouri College 9-8 and 12-4 in Trenton on Wednesday, April 24.

In game one, outfielder Jaelyn Winfrey led SFCC with three hits, including a double and a run scored. Utility player Bailey Haselhorst recorded a double and a home run, three RBIs and a run scored. Outfielder Becca Hall added two hits, including a home run, three RBIs and a run scored. Catcher Paige Klinge also hit a home run, scored twice, and drove in a run. Middle infielder Sami Picha added a double, a run scored and an RBI.

Starting pitcher Grace VanDenburgh gave up eight runs on 13 hits and walked one in 4 1/3 innings. Charlee Reese pitched the final 1 2/3 innings and gave up one unearned run and walked one.

In game two SFCC was held to only four hits. Winfrey had two hits, including a home run, scored a run and drove in a run. Haselhorst also hit a home run, scored two runs and drove in one. Hall had a double. Klinge scored a run. Catcher/third baseman Lia Hill drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Pitcher/utility player Aireanna Hoeppner got the start and gave up two hits and struck out three in two innings. Kiara Sodini pitched four innings out of the bullpen, gave up 12 runs (10 earned runs) on 14 hits, walked four and struck out one.

April 27 Missouri State University-West Plains at Sedalia

The fourth-seeded Lady Roadrunners (27-25) opened postseason play with a Region 16 Sub Regional sweep of fifth-seeded Missouri State University-West Plains, winning game one 4-0 and 9-5 in game two at Mandy Thomas Field in Sedalia on Saturday, April 27.

In game one, Hall led the Lady Roadrunners with a pair of home runs, three RBIs and two runs scored. Haselhorst had two hits, and a run scored and one stolen base. Winfrey registered a hit. Picha hit a double that scored a run. Third baseman Myla Inman had one hit.

"Offensively, throughout the year if you look at our games, if the ball goes over the fence we usually win," said Head Coach Michele Rupard. We were fortunate enough that that happened again today."

Reese tossed a complete game shutout for SFCC in the circle. Reese scattered six hits, struck out three and walked three.

"I thought Charlee Reese did a nice job in the circle for us," said Rupard. I thought she did a nice job of keeping her pitch count down through six innings, so we sent her back out there for the seventh."

In game two, the SFCC offense put together 11 hits as a team. Picha led the charge with three hits, including a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Winfrey had two hits, including a home run, two runs scored and an RBI. Haselhorst added two hits, including a double and a run scored. Klinge registered a double. Middle infielder/outfielder Emily Burke had a pair of hits, including a double, a run scored and an RBI. First baseman/second baseman Danika Sickle tripled and scored a pair of runs. Inman and middle infielder/outfielder Jordan Crooks each drove in a run. Hall scored a run.

"It was also very important that we were able to play clean games," said Rupard. "In the postseason it is extremely important to be good defensively and do the little things well. I think that is the first time all year that we played back-to-back games and did not commit any errors. Today was a total team effort with contributions for everyone."

Hoeppner got the start and gave up five runs on six hits, struck out three and walked seven in five innings to earn the victory. VanDenburgh pitched two innings, walked one and struck out one in relief to slam the door for SFCC.

"It was great to be able to play the Sub Regional at our field," said Rupard. "Our field took about three inches of water in the last 48 hours. I would like to thank the crew from the Sedalia Parks and Recreation Department, they really helped us be able to get the field into shape to be able to play."

SFCC will play at Jefferson College on Thursday, May 2 at 2 p.m.

David Rohrbach

SFCC Athletics