by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College is back home for softball doubleheaders Wednesday and Thursday after dropping a twin bill to State Fair Community College in Sedalia Monday.
The Blue Devils play host to Southeast Nebraska Wednesday at 1and 3 p.m. and then return to Jayhawk Conference action Thursday when they entertain Fort Scott at 2 and 4 p.m.
State Fair took an early 4-2 lead on the way to a 9-4 win in Monday’s opener, then rallied for a 9-6 win in the nightcap.
The Blue Devils had a 12-9 advantage in hits in the opener only to have the Roadrunners capitalize on seven walks.
Kaylee Arnzen doubled and singled twice; Jennica Messer singled three times; Hannah Redick singled twice; and Britney Smith doubled in the 12-hit. KCKCC scored runs in both the first and second innings on hits by Arnzen and Redick and Devin Purcell singled in both KCKCC runs in a 2-run sixth inning.
Buoyed by three home runs, State Fair went ahead with four runs in the second 4-2 and widened the lead with three runs in the third and two in the fourth off Mackenzie Pinkerton (5-5), who struck out five.
KCKCC broke a 0-0 deadlock with six runs in the fourth inning of the nightcap highlighted by a two-run home run by Alexis Rymer, a two-run triple by Britney Smith and an RBI double by Arnzen, who had two doubles in the game.
However, State Fair tied the game with two runs in the fourth and four in the fifth and then won it with three runs in the sixth. Shaylun Grosstephan suffered her first loss in seven pitching decisions, allowing 12 hits, walking one and striking out five.