by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Limited to six hits in an opening 6-1 softball loss at Ottawa University JV Wednesday, Kansas City Kansas Community College rebounded with a 15-hit attack in an 8-5 win.
“We didn’t pitch well in the first game but hit the ball well in the second game,” said KCKCC coach Kacy Tillery, whose Lady Blue Devils return to action at Maple Woods next Tuesday at 1 p.m.
Sophomore Geena Harris of Bonner Springs powered the Blue Devils to the nightcap win, driving in five runs with a 2-run double in the first and a 3-run home run that highlighted a 6-run fifth inning. Winning pitcher Elizabeth Seimears aided her own cause with two doubles and a single; designated hitter Savannah Dugan doubled and singled twice; and Kennedy Rasmussen doubled and singled.
Trailing 4-2 in the fifth, the Blue Devils pulled even on singles by Hannah Bishop, Rasmussen and Dungan and an error before Harris unloaded her 3-run home run. The Blue Devils’ final run came on a double by Seimears and a single Katherine Stringer. KCKCC’s first two runs in the first came on a double by Dungan, an error and Harris’ two-run double.
Seimears did not give up an earned run in going the 7-inning route, striking out two and walking one. The Blue Devils were guilty of three errors, each of which led to run-scoring innings.
KCKCC’s lone run in the opener came on a single by Bishop, an error and Samantha Sudac’s 2-out single. Morgan Oroke doubled and singled and Dungan doubled in the 6-hit attack. Leadoff hitter Aryn Smith was the No. 1 problem for KCKCC hurler Brittany Gustin, reaching base to start run-scoring innings in the first, third and fifth. Gustin allowed six hits, striking out five and walking three.
“Our bats were pretty much non-existent in the first game and we had some base-running errors,” Tillery said. “Defensively we didn’t field as well so obviously we have plenty to work on.”
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.