SFCC baseball recaps March 7-10 and 12

March 7, Kansas City Kansas Community College at Dey Field, Liberty Park Stadium

The Roadrunners snapped a four-game losing streak defeating the Kansas City Kansas Community College Blue Devils 8-6. SFCC started the scoring with one run in the first inning and two in the second. The Blue Devils responded with a run in the third and five in the fourth. The Roadrunners scored five runs in the sixth inning to emerge with a come-from-behind victory. 

Freshman pitcher Brendan Owsley pitched three innings allowing seven hits, three runs and getting one strikeout. Freshman pitcher Josiah Imhoff (1-0) picked up the win in relief, pitching the final six innings allowing three runs on four hits while striking out two. 

Freshman Zack Ehlen recorded three hits and four RBIs and stole a base. Freshman Blake Ford had two hits, scored two runs scored and two RBIs. 

March 8, Central Methodist University JV at Fayette

SFCC opened the scoring in game one with one run in the first inning, and then added two in the third inning. Central Methodist responded with a run in the bottom of the third. SFCC scored two runs in the fifth inning and two in the sixth to break the game open and win 8-2. 

Sophomore Tanner Cantrell led the Roadrunners with three hits, scored three runs and drove in one. Ehlen had a pair of hits and an RBI. Freshman catcher Derek Shikles had two hits. 

Freshman Aaron Bennefeld (1-0) pitched, giving up no runs on no hits and striking out one to record the victory. 

In game two, SFCC scored five runs in the first two innings. The Roadrunners put the game away tacking on seven more in the seventh to win game two 13-2 in five innings. 

Freshman Tyler Crane paced the SFCC offense with two hits and three runs scored. Ehlen had two hits along with freshman D.J. McNew who drove in four runs. Freshman Jacob Clifton added two hits and freshman Kenneth Prado had two hits and two runs scored. SFCC pounded out 14 hits as a team. 

Freshman pitcher Dalton Zaremba (1-0) got the start for SFCC and pitched three innings, allowing one hit in two runs with no earned runs while striking out two and walking two to earn the victory. 

March 9, Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods at Dey Field, Liberty Park Stadium

The Roadrunners played a Region 16 doubleheader against the Metropolitan Community College Monarchs from Kansas City. SFCC exploded for eight runs in the third inning to erase an early 2-0 Maple Woods lead. SFCC held off a late rally to win 8-5 in game one. 

Ehlen, Crane, sophomore Derek Miller and Cantrell recorded hits for SFCC. Ehlen knocked in a pair of runs. Sophomore pitcher Payton Rawlins (2-1) picked up the win in relief for SFCC. Freshman pitcher Alex Dyer picked up his first save pitching a scoreless seventh inning. 

In the second game SFCC scored two runs in the first inning. Maple Woods answered with two runs in the third along with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. The Monarchs scored four runs in the ninth to take a 9-3 lead. SFCC pushed across two runs, losing 9-5. 

The SFCC offense produced five hits in game two. McNew and Miller had an RBI a piece. Freshman pitcher Jake McMahill (0-3) got the start on the mound and pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing five runs, and four earned runs, while striking out seven and walking two. 

March 10, Missouri Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods at Kansas City

In game one, SFCC scored a run in the first inning; Maple Woods answered with two runs. The Roadrunners tied the contest, adding a run in the fourth. The Monarchs scored a run in the sixth, winning the game 3-2. 

Freshman Steven Bradbury led SFCC with a pair of hits. Crane and freshman Andru Baxley each recorded an RBI. Freshman Roberto Ramirez (1-2) pitched six innings, giving up nine hits, three runs and two earned runs. He struck out three and took the loss. 

SFCC won game two 9-5. The game was tied 2-2 going into the top of the seventh inning when the SFCC scored seven runs. Maple Woods responded with two runs and one more the eighth. 

Cantrell led the Roadrunners with two hits and four RBIs. Ehlen had two hits and two RBIs. Bradbury scored two runs. Clifton, Zaremba, Prado, freshman Chris De Los Santos and Ford all had two hits each. Ford also scored a pair of runs. 

Freshman pitcher Chase Plymell (2-2) pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up four runs and three earned runs while striking out three and walking two. He was the winning pitcher. 

March 12, Metropolitan Community College-Longview at Dey Field, Liberty Park Stadium

The Lakers scored first in the second inning, but SFCC answered with three runs in bottom of the inning that was good for a 3-2 win. 

Miller singled to left and Crane dropped a perfect bunt down the first base line in the second inning. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Miller scored from third on another wild pitch. Shikles drove in Crane with a base hit to right field to tie the game. Ehlen rocketed a base hit to left field to score freshman Chase Swisher. 

The Lakers added a run in the top the fourth, but that's all the Roadrunners' pitching staff would allow.

Freshman pitcher Josiah Imhoff (2-0) pitched six innings, scattering five hits, allowing two runs and striking out four. 

"Josiah was able to command the ball and keep it down in the strike zone," said Head Coach Jud Kindle. "He mixed his pitches well."

SFCC got two innings of relief work from freshman pitcher Kevin Diaz. Dyer closed the ninth inning earning his third save.  

"Longview pitched well against us," said Kindle. "Their starting pitcher did a good job keeping us off balance. We were able to put one big inning up against him. It was a very evenly matched game that was well played defensively and a fun game to watch." 

SFCC's record is 9-8 and 2-6 in Region 16. 

David Rohrbach 

SFCC Athletics