SFCC baseball game recaps April 5-6

The Roadrunners baseball team had to do a bit of juggling in order to get in their scheduled Region 16 doubleheaders. The games were moved to Thursday and Friday and all the games against St. Charles Community College Cougars were played in Cottleville due to weather concerns and transportation issues. SFCC (26-11, 18-6 in Region 16) split a doubleheader on April 5, dropping the first game 2-1 before bouncing back to win game two 17-6. The next day, the Roadrunners swept the doubleheader 10-0 and 14-4.

April 5, St. Charles Community College at Cottleville

SFCC got on the scoreboard first in game one with a single run in the top of the second inning. The Cougars responded with a run in the bottom of the third inning and the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The SFCC offense was held to just four hits in the game. Sophomore utility player Zack Ehlenrecorded a hit and a stolen base. Sophomore outfielder Tyler Crane recorded a hit along with sophomore infielder Steven Bradbury and sophomore catcher Blake Ford. Sophomore catcher Jake Quarti scored the only run of the game for the Roadrunners. He also recorded a stolen base. Ford had a run batted in.

Freshman pitcher Conner Burnett got the start on the mound for the Roadrunners. He pitched five innings, allowed four hits and one run to earn the no decision. Sophomore pitcher Connor Jonas(1-1) pitched the final inning in relief, allowing one earned run and striking out one. He allowed one walk and picked up the loss.

In game two, SFCC scored three runs in the top of the second inning, two runs in the third and three more in the fourth. The Cougars scored one run in the bottom of the fourth. SFCC responded with a single run in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth. St. Charles tacked on two runs in the bottom of the inning. SFCC busted the game wide open with six runs in the seventh. The Cougars scored three runs in the bottom the seventh.

Eight of the nine Roadrunner batters in the starting lineup scored at least one run in the game. Sophomore first baseman Jacob Mitchell led the SFCC offensive attack with four hits, including a pair of home runs and a double. He also drove in five runs, scored three times and stole two bases. Quarti contributed two hits, scored twice and drove in three runs. Bradbury had a pair of hits, scored two runs and drove in one. Ehlen and sophomore infielder Keneth Prado also hit home runs in game two.

Sophomore pitcher Josiah Imhoff (3-2) got the start on the mound in game two. He pitched six innings, allowed three earned runs and struck out three to pick up the victory.

April 6, St. Charles Community College at Cottleville

SFCC served as the home team for this doubleheader. In the bottom of the first inning, the Roadrunners scored four runs, all they would need to win game one. However, they added four more runs in the third inning, one in the fourth and one run in the fifth. The game was called after five innings.

Crane led the SFCC offense with a pair of hits. He also scored a run and drove in a run. Mitchell and freshman infielder Gavin Jones drove in two runs each. Prado and Ford scored two runs each.

Sophomore pitcher Chase Plymell (4-4) went the distance for SFCC on the mound. He tossed a three-hit shutout and struck out five.

In game two, each team scored a run in the first inning. St. Charles scored two runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead. SFCC tacked on a run in the bottom of the fifth and exploded for six more in the sixth to take control of the game. St. Charles added a run in the top of the eighth inning. SFCC responded with six more runs.

Sophomore infielder Chase Swisher led the SFCC offense with three hits. He scored a run, drove in three and stole a pair of bases. Ehlen had two stolen bases. Quarti continued his hot hitting with two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs. Jones also registered two hits with two runs scored and three RBIs. Freshman outfielder Hayden Bradford scored three runs.

Sophomore pitcher Jake McMahill (8-0) got the start on the mound for SFCC. He pitched six innings, allowing three hits, three runs and striking out seven. Freshman pitcher Logan Bexton and sophomore pitcher Brett Wilbanks combined to pitch the final three innings in relief for SFCC.

"We were able to put together three really good games," said Head Coach Jud Kindle. "In the first game, we didn't do a very good job of hitting the fastball. We were able to make the adjustment and hit the ball well in the final three games. We are trying to compete for a top three seed in the regional, so we have to focus more on each game."

David Rohrbach

SFCC Athletics