by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information
Kansas City Kansas Community College tightened its hold on third place in the Jayhawk Conference with a sweep at Hesston Thursday but it didn’t come easy.
After scoring eight runs in the final three innings in a 12-7 win in the opener, the Blue Devils had to score four runs in the top of the seventh to rally for a 8-5 nightcap win.
KCKCC followed up the sweep with another on Saturday, 19-12 and 9-1 over Metropolitan.
The wins stretched KCKCC’s winning streak to eight in a row and 24-6 overall. At 6-4 in the 5-team Division II, Division A Conference, the Blue Devils are third behind Labette (7-1) and Johnson County (8-2). Home Tuesday against Crowder at 2-4, the Blue Devils play at No. 13 ranked Johnson County Community College Saturday at noon and 2 p.m.
KCKCC trailed 5-4 in the seventh inning of the second game at Hesston before rallying for the 8-5 win.
After singles by Bradi Basler and Alexis Rymer and a walk loaded the bases with one out, Jenna Daugherty singled in the tying run. Madison Pope’s two-run double broke the 5-5 tie and Alaina Howe singled in the final run.
Basler went the distance for the pitching win, allowing four earned runs on eight hits, striking out eight and walking three. Howe led the offense, driving in four runs with a double and two singles while Pope and Devin Purcell had two hits each.
Five Blue Devils had two or more hits in the 12-7 win. Savannah Maynard gave the Blue Devils a 3-0 lead in the third with a bases-loaded double, one of three she had in the game. Pope and Hannah Maarer also had three hits and each with a double; Daugherty doubled and singled and Basler singled twice,
Breanna Droge got the pitching win with help from Samantha Reynolds. Droge worked 5.1 innings, allowing five runs, striking out five and walking three before Reynolds came on with one out in the sixth and gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits in a wild finish. KCKCC scored two runs in the fifth and three in both the sixth and seventh; Hesston scored three times in both the sixth and seventh.
KCKCC trailed Metro 12-11 in the fifth inning before scoring eight runs in the sixth of the 19-12 slugfest Saturday.
Pope homered and drove in four runs while four other Blue Devils had two hits – Rymer with two doubles and Maynard, Basler, and Daugherty two singles each.
The last of four Blue Devil pitchers, Basler got the win, allowing five hits and three runs while facing 15 hitters. Droge, Elson and Reynolds pitched the first five innings.
Basler also got the win in the 9-1 nightcap, allowing just two hits and no earned runs in the 6-inning game.
Rymer drove in four runs with a double and single to pace the Blue Devils. Maynard drove in two runs with a double and single while Purcell and Pope each had two hits.