Blue Devil hurlers give up one run in sweep of North Ark

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College’s streaking softball team continued to get outstanding pitching Monday, limiting North Arkansas to just one run in a doubleheader sweep.

Sophomore Faith Maslak allowed four hits in a 4-1 7-inning opener; freshman Mackenzie Pinkerton gave up just two hits in an 11-0 shutout in the second game.

The two wins stretched the Blue Devils’ winning streak to seven in a row and improved their overall record to 12-4 heading into a doubleheader with Ottawa University junior varsity Wednesday at 2 and 4 p.m. The games were originally scheduled for Tuesday but were moved back a day.

KCKCC will then resume Jayhawk Conference play Thursday when the Blue Devils play host to Highland, the No. 14 ranked team in NJCAA Division II.

Maslak had a shutout until the seventh inning in the opener. She struck out eight. The Blue Devils pushed a run across in the second and lengthened their lead to 4-0 with three runs in the fourth.

Devin Purcell led a 7-hit KCKCC attack with a pair of singles. Hannah Redick, Alexis Rymer, Kaylee Arnzen, Britney Smith and Paris Forshey had the other hits.

The Blue Devils had 10 hits in support of Pinkerton in the nightcap. Pinkerton allowed two hits, struck out six and walked two in five innings.

The Blue Devils had two big innings, scoring six in the second and five in the fourth.

Three Blue Devils, Smith, Arnzen and Jennice Messer, each doubled and singled with Smith driving in three runs and Arnzen two while Purcell singled twice, scored twice and stole a base.