by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College kicked off a six-date home stand with an offensive assault Friday, pounding out 22 hits in sweeping a doubleheader over Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods.
Finally playing at home for the first time, the Blue Devils collected 10 hits in an 11-5 opening game win and then added a dozen more in a 15-5 5-inning cruise in the nightcap.
The first wins for new coach Lana Ross, the sweep evened the Blue Devils’ record at 2-2 heading into a home doubleheader Monday with State Fair at 1 and 3 p.m. The twin bill Monday is the first of five home doubleheaders scheduled this coming week.
Four Blue Devils had two hits in the 11-5 opener – Hannah Redick, Devin Purcell, Kaylee Arnzen and winning pitcher Shaylun Grosstephan. Arnzen drove in three runs with a single and double while Britney Smith tripled in a pair of runs. Grosstephan worked the first 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and five runs, two of which were unearned. She struck out three and walked four.
Mackenzie Pinkerton finished up to record a save and then went the distance in the second game. Pinkerton faced 12 hitters, giving up one hit, striking out six and walking three for the save. In the nightcap, Pinkerton scattered eight hits, striking out six and walking none in facing 23 hitters.
The Blue Devils repeated with four players with two hits in the second game while Britney Smith again tripled in two runs. Jennica Messer drove in four runs with a double and single and Alaina Howe drove in two with a triple and single. Redick and Grosstephan each had a pair of singles, drove in runs and scored three times.
“We had a slow start in the circle in the first game but I know that will come around as it was Grosstephan’s first outing,” Ross said. “We committed too many errors physically (four) and mentally but I was proud of them for doing their jobs at the plate and scoring a lot of runs.
“The second game was a much better game and a better example of how we can play. Pinkerton did a great job today, pitching 7 2/3 innings and collecting 12 strikeouts. We need to keep building from here and get better with each game.”
After playing host to State Fair Monday, the Blue Devils will entertain North Dakota School of Science Wednesday (2-4 p.m.), Ellsworth Friday (12-2 p.m.), Cloud County Saturday (1-3 p.m.) and Southwestern Iowa Sunday (12-2 p.m.). The Cloud County doubleheader will open Jayhawk Conference play.