by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information
Kansas City Kansas Community College pounded out 37 hits in opening the 2021 softball season with a sweep of Ottawa University’s junior varsity Wednesday, winning the 7-inning opener 4-2 and the 5-inning nightcap 24-5.
The Blue Devils are right back in action this weekend, playing host to Marshalltown Saturday and No. 9-ranked Kirkwood Sunday. Both twin bills start at 1 p.m.
Lansing’s Bradi Basler went the distance in the 4-2 opener, giving up seven hits, striking out eight and walking two. Veterans Devin Purcell and Alaina Howe and freshman Hannah Maurer each had a pair of hits in the Blue Devils’ 10-hit attack.
Ottawa took a 1-0 lead in the first but KCKCC quickly tied the game in the bottom of the inning.
Savannah Maynard led off the inning with a triple and scored on Purcell’s squeeze bunt.
Howe singled, stole second and scored on Leah’s Seichepine’s single to give KCKCC a 2-1 lead in the second and the Blue Devils made it 3-1 in the third on a single by Purcell, Maurer double and Basler’s ground ball.
Howe singled in the final run in the sixth after a single by Piper’s Alexis Rymer and Lindsey Gettle’s sacrifice.
Six Blue Devils had three or more hits in a 27-hit assault in the 24-5 nightcap.
Rymer drove in five runs on a triple, two doubles and a single while Purcell was a perfect 5-for-5.
Maynard’s four hits included a triple and three RBI; Mauer and Basler had three singles and a double each, Maurer driving in four runs and Basler three; and Madison Pope had three hits and an RBI.
Nerida Elson pitched the first two innings, allowing five runs on three hits and three walks before Brenna Droge worked the final three to get the win. She allowed two hits, two walks and no runs.