by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College got the 2019 Jayhawk Conference softball season off in winning fashion Saturday, defeating Cloud County in a 19-8 slugfest and a 4-3 pitcher’s duel.
The sweep improved the Blue Devils’ record to 8-4 heading into a doubleheader Monday with Northern Arkansas starting at 1 p.m.
Tied 3-3 in the nightcap, KCKCC scored what proved to be the winning run when Hannah Redick doubled and Devin Purcell singled in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Alexis Rymer put the Blue Devils in front 2-0 in the first with a two-run single. Cloud pulled even with two runs in the third but KCKCC regained the lead on a double by Shaylun Grosstephean and a single by Kaylee Arnzen in the bottom of the inning.
Grosstephan got the pitching win, blanking the T-Birds the final three innings. Scattering 10 hits, she walked two and struck out two in recording her fourth straight win without a loss.
Pounding out 13 hits and taking advantage of nine walks, the Blue Devils scored seven runs in the first and eight in the second in the 5-inning opening game.
MacKenzie Pinkerton got her third win, allowing 11 hits, walking five and striking out two.
Reddick, a freshman from Shawnee Mission North, led the Blue Devils as she drove in five runs on two doubles and a single.
Brittney Beck doubled and drove in four runs; Alaina Howe and Grosstephan each drove in three with a double and single; and Jennica Messer doubled in a pair of runs.
In addition to playing host to North Ark Monday, the Blue Devils will also entertain Ottawa junior varsity Tuesday at 2 and 4 p.m. and then return to Jayhawk Conference play Thursday when they play host to No. 14-ranked Highland (4-3) at 2 and 4 p.m.