SCC split with the Lady Lynx 1-1. The Lady Cougars took the first game 9-6 in extra innings. Lindenwood-Belleville won the second 3-1. “Our pitching was very good. Our pitchers were in the strike zone a lot,” said Head Coach Michelle Patrico. The first four scheduled games of the season were cancelled. SCC (1-1) is scheduled to open MCCAC conference play Tuesday, March 18 with a game at St. Louis Community College. SCC's home opener is March 27 against conference foe East Central.
SCC 9, Lindenwood-Belleville 6 (F 10)
The Lady Cougars' season opener was an extra-inning thriller. Freshman April Hennen started the scoring with an RBI double in the third. After Lindenwood-Belleville tied it up in the bottom of the third, freshman outfielder Jessica Chadwell gave SCC the lead back with a two-run triple in the fourth. Freshman Madison Bradley and freshman Mia Broemmer knocked in runs in the fifth to give SCC a 5-3 lead. Going into the bottom of the seventh, the lead stood. With two outs, a four-pitch walk was issued. The very next pitch was hit out by Lindenwood-Belleville first baseman Allisen Newhaus to tie the score and send it to extras.
In college softball, each inning is started with the last batted out on second base “to encourage scoring and speed up the game,” according to Coach Patrico. In the top of the 10th, freshman Nicki Pondrom drove in what would prove to be the game-winning run before fellow freshman pitcher Shannon Clardy shut the door in the bottom half of the inning.
Lindenwood-Belleville 3, SCC 1
SCC once again scored first. In the first inning, sophomore Anna Bowden drove in freshman Samantha Liefer with a sac fly. However, that would be all the scoring the Lady Cougars could muster in game two. Lindenwood-Belleville tied the score in the third thanks to a two-out triple and an SCC error. The Lady Lynx added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Taylor Winn knocked in Niehaus and then was subsequently batted in by Ajah Douglas' RBI single.
Bradley received the loss despite a strong performance on the mound. Bradley pitched 5 2/3 innings, striking out 2, and scattering 5 hits.
Upcoming Games
March 17- at St. Louis CC 1 pm (DH)
March 19- at Crowder College 1 pm (DH)