Lady Roadrunners earn sweep on Sophomore Day

Sedalia, Mo.-The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Lady Roadrunners softball team took a pair of Region 16 games from Missouri State University-West Plains on Saturday, April 25 at Ron Ditzfeld Field.

The Lady Roadrunners trailed 5-1 after three innings. SFCC (21-26) battle back to win the opening game of the doubleheader 7-6 on a bases clearing walk-off double from freshman pitcher/second baseman Grace Evans of Fulton, Mo.

"We had some good at-bats early in the game," said head coach Michele Rupard. "We just kept working. We had one really good bat in the final inning and had some luck to go along with it to set the inning up. Grace had a great at-bat and hit a line drive."

Freshman utility player Jaden Mauzey of Mendon had a pair of doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Freshman utility player Shyanne Weibrecht of Perryville had a pair of hits. Freshman third baseman Morgan Marshall of St. Joseph also contributed a pair of hits and a run scored. Sophomore Chelsye Graham of Ash Grove added a pair of hits and a run scored. Sophomore utility player Jenna Herald of Monett pitched in with a double and an RBI. Evans doubled, drove in three runs, and scored twice.

Sophomore pitcher/second baseman Elana Clark of Maysville got the start in the circle for SFCC. Clark pitched four innings, allowed six runs, (four earned runs), on eight hits, struck out four, and walked three. Freshman pitcher Addison Wallace of Carthage came out of the bullpen to pitch three innings, gave up no runs on one hit, struck out four, and walked one.

SFCC won the second game of the doubleheader 6-1. The Lady Roadrunners scored five runs in the top of the second, highlighted by the first ever inside-the-park grand slam in the history of Ron Ditzfeld Field off the bat of Mauzey. Mauzey had a sinking line drive that got past the diving centerfielder all the way to the wall.

"Jaden had two doubles in game one to go along with the home run in the second game to help break the game open," said Rupard. "I feel like we could've put them away earlier, but we didn't."

Marshall added three more hits. Herald doubled and scored twice. Mauzey hit a home run and drove in five runs. Freshman outfielder Madelyn Backes of Bonnots Mill added a triple. As a team, SFCC put together 10 hits.

Wallace got the start in the circle for SFCC. Wallace pitched three innings, gave up one run on six hits, and struck out one. Sophomore pitcher/utility player Valerie Meyer of Houstonia came out of the bullpen to pitch four innings, gave up one hit, and struck out four.

The Lady Roadrunners honored their sophomores at the conclusion of game two.

"Our sophomore class has been great," said Rupard. "They have worked hard for the past two years. They have really helped the freshman class this year. They have all stepped up as leaders in their own way to help guide this large freshman class."

SFCC will return to action on Tuesday, April 28 with another Region 16 doubleheader against St. Charles Community College. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. from Ron Ditzfeld Field.

David Rohrbach

SFCC Athletics