by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Seven Kansas City Kansas Community pitchers combined for seven innings of 3-hit relief in a 4-2 win over Saint Mary JV Monday.
The win boosted the Blue Devils’ overall record to 18-11 and home record to 12-2 heading into a home Jayhawk Conference doubleheader Thursday with Highland at 1 p.m.
Saint Mary took a 1-0 lead in the second inning against starter Max Storch, bunching three singles for the run. But the Spires managed only three more singles the rest of the way, two of them coming in the sixth along with a sacrifice bunt and ground ball for their second run against Jarrett Cronin.
Otherwise, the Spires managed only one other hit against relievers Jake Bartshe, Allan Brown, Cameron Bednar, Luke Ostenson, Julia Rivera and Colton Kenagy – each of whom pitched a scoreless inning. Brown got the win, Kenagy the save.
The Blue Devils, meanwhile, were limited to just five hits including two each by Rorey Combs and Dade Wheeler, and managed only one base-runner over the final four innings.
Combs provided the runs that won it, a two-run home run in the fourth inning that capped a 3-run rally.. Brigham Mooney drew a one-out walk and scored on Wheeler’s single and Combs followed with a two-out blast to right-center.
It was Combs’ second homer of the year. KCKCC’s first run came in the third on singles by Wheeler and Combs and a sacrifice fly by Alex Phillips.