by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Independence has ended Kansas City Kansas Community College’s softball season, defeating the Lady Blue Devils 3-0 and 5-3 in rain-delayed Region VI playoff action at Independence Sunday. The losses ended the Blue Devils season at 25-21.
Heather Breslin allowed just five hits and struck out six in pitching the Lady Pirates to the 3-0 opening game win and then blanked the Blue Devils for 3 1/3 innings of the nightcap before Gillian Shafe finished, allowing all three KCKCC runs in the 5-3 nightcap win.
Tiffany Killam’s home run, her 16th in a record-setting season, was the bright spot for the Blue Devils in the 5-3 loss. The home run triggered a 3-run sixth innings for the Blue Devils which included three walks and singles by Savannah Dungen, Geena Harris and LaTisha Thomas. Thomas finished with four singles in four trips to the plate while Harris singled and doubled and Killam added a single to her home run.
Pitcher Brittany Gustin had three of the Blue Devils’ five hits off Breslin in the opener. Mekayla Guerrero doubled and Morgan Oroke singled for the other hits. The Blue Devils loaded the bases with two out in the seventh before a ground ball ended the game.
Gustin went the distance in both games for KCKCC, allowing seven hits and just two earned runs in the 3-0 loss and 11 hits and four earned runs in the 5-3 nightcap. Jessie Guentzel homered in the first game for Indy; Abby Shelton in the second game.