Cloud County Softball Falls Twice in Road Doubleheader at Labette
Scoring six runs in the top of the seventh before being walked off in a 10-9 loss, the Cloud County Community College softball team would be unable to overcome five errors in game two as part of a 12-4 loss to drop a pair of games to Labette Community College at the Labette Softball Field on Saturday, April 15th.
Finishing their week by dropping to 13-21 overall, Cloud County is now 3-7 in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference while seeing Labette improve to 17-11 overall and 8-2 in the KJCCC.
GAME ONE:
Falling into an early deficit after seeing LCC load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the second to score three unearned runs on a bases-clearing triple, the T-Birds would manage to get two runs back in the top of the third as a Ryleigh Jones one-out single would lead to a run three batters later on a passed ball before seeing McKenna Mayhew extend the inning with a double to put runners at second and third. Freshman Jayden Rehlander would bring home Emily Kvasnicka from third on an RBI single to push across a second run in the inning for CCCC before seeing Mayhew cut down at the plate as the T-Birds would trail the Cardinals 3-2 heading into the bottom of the third.
Labette would manage to turn three hits in the bottom of the third into a run to go back up two at 4-2 before adding to their lead in the fourth with a two-run home run and RBI single extending the lead to 7-2. With the deficit still at five heading into the top of the sixth, Cloud County would get a run back with a leadoff home run from Mayhew for what would be their only run of the inning while seeing Labette have a response in the bottom of the inning by scoring two runs on a two-out home run.
Needing at least six runs to extend the game into the bottom of the seventh, CCCC would put some pressure on LCC with two singles over the first three batters before getting an RBI single from Mayhew with two outs followed by a Rehlander single to load the bases. Keeping the hit parade going, Hannah Hotalen would hit an RBI single followed by a Zoie Kincade single to suddenly make things 9-6 with the game-tying run now on base as the offensive spurt would suddenly become contagious. Brooklynn McCormick would follow Kincade with another RBI single for the T-Birds and be followed by an Alexis Billings RBI single that would see a second run come home on a throwing error by the Cardinals to tie the game at 9-9. With a chance to take the lead, Cloud County would ultimately strand runners at second and third after an eight-hit inning that would see a six-run deficit completely erased.
Momentum gained in the top of the seventh for CCCC would quickly be erased by Labette however as back-to-back singles to start the inning would put the game-winning run at second before a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up 60 feet. After a walk to load the bases and set up a force out at any base, LCC would get their third single of the inning to bring home Elle Slaughter to secure a 10-9 win and walk off the T-Birds.
Recording 16 hits to outhit Labette 16-15, Cloud County would be led by a four-for-four effort from Rehlander who would drive in one run while seeing Mayhew and Billings both go three-for-four and account for three of CCCC's remaining six RBI. Only two of the 16 hits would go for extra bases with Mayhew recording both hits that weren't singles as the T-Birds would strike out just twice.
GAME TWO:
Taking advantage of a leadoff base runner off an LCC error, CCCC would jump out to an early lead on a Mayhew fielder's choice in the top of the first before seeing defensive miscues of their own become a problem in the bottom of the first as Labette would score seven runs and send 11 batters to the plate. Of the seven runs given up in the bottom of the first, three would be unearned as three total errors would give the Cardinals numerous chances and put the T-Birds into a six-run hole after an inning of play.
Scoring another single run in the second on a McCormick single to score Hotalen, Cloud County would see Labette match the T-Birds in the bottom of the inning by scoring a run on an RBI single before adding to their lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. The deficit would continue to grow in the bottom of the fifth as a one-out walk would begin a rally that would push across two more runs to put the Cardinals on the verge of ending the game early.
Unable to get any offense going in the top of the sixth, CCCC would see their day come to an end in the bottom of the inning as a one-out walk would lead to a stolen base and RBI single to bring home the game-ending run with the lead for Labette reaching eight.
After the strong offensive showing in game one, Cloud County would be limited to just six hits with just one hit coming over the final three innings of play with the final nine batters sent to the plate by CCCC retired in order. Hotalen would finish as the lone T-Bird with multiple hits in the game while Billings would account for the only extra-base hit by Cloud County with four other players each recording one hit.
What's Next?
Cloud County is off until Thursday, April 20th when the T-Birds play host to Kansas City Kansas Community College with a 2 PM doubleheader at the CCCC Softball Field. The Blue Devils are 15-12 overall and will play four games next week prior to their trip to Concordia with KJCCC games against Independence on Monday afternoon before playing Northeastern Oklahoma A&M at home on Tuesday.