Kenny Hernandez
LIBERAL, Kan. – Seward County Community College splits with Colby Community College with a loss to start the day 9-8 and bounced back to win 7-3. The Saints remain in third place behind the Trojans with a 10-10 conference record and an 11-15 overall record.
In the first game, the Trojans started off the top of the first inning with an RBI triple to lead 1-0 but the Saints responded in the bottom of the first as Macy Cesa-Spearman able to reach home off of a fielders error. Colby responded in the top of the third inning to regain the lead 2-1 after a home run. Seward County had an answer to tie it back at two all with a home run of their own by Macy Cesa-Spearman.
Seward County took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the fourth inning with an RBI single by Melissa Crisanti to score Alyssah Pontoja. The Saints were able to add to their lead in the fifth inning with a double by Jaci Oakley to score Jacie Scott from second and Ashley low followed up with a double of her own to score Jaci Oakley. The Saints AJ Luna grounded into a fielder’s choices that scored Ashley Low from third base and gave Seward County a 6-2 lead after the fifth inning.
Colby came out in the top of the sixth inning and scored three runs to trail Seward 6-5 after the sixth. The Saints were three outs away from the win in the top of the seventh but the Trojans were not done yet and scored one run off of a double to left field to tie the game at six all.
In extra innings, the Trojans continued with their hot bat as they scored two more off of a double and added one more off of a single to left field to lead 9-6. Melissa Crisanti doubled to center field to score AJ Luna and Emily Mojica to get the Saints within one run at 9-8. With two outs and runs on third and second base, AJ Luna grounded into a fielder’s choice for the third and final out of the game.
Alyssah Pontoja received the loss from the circle with eight-inning pitched, 13 hits, three earned runs, and three strikeouts.
For the second game of the doubleheader, Seward County and Colby went the first two-inning scoreless. The Saints were the first to score in the bottom of the third with an RBI single by Macy Cesa-Spearman and scored Melissa Crisanti. The Trojans evened up the score with a home run in the top of the fourth inning.
Seward County’s offense exploded in the fifth inning to score four runs and to take a 5-1 lead. Cesa-Spearman tripled to the right field to score Alondra Galindo and Crisanti from first base. Jacie Scott reached on an error and scored Cesa-Spearman from third base and Ayanna Clemons scored Scott later in the inning with a single to center.
In the top of the sixth inning, Colby added one more run off of a Saint error but Seward still led 5-2. The Saints added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning with Cesa-Spearman hitting her second triple of the game to score Emily Mojica and Cesa-Spearman later scored off of a passed ball. The Trojans were able to score one more run in the top of the seventh but that would be all as Seward County would shut them down and win 7-3.
Ireland Caro earned the victory in the pitcher’s circle for the Saints. Caro allowed six hits and three runs in seven innings and striking out eight.
Seward County will take on the top-seeded Broncbusters from Garden City on Tuesday, April 27th starting at 2 pm at French Family Field.
