KCC softball sweeps GRCC, falls to Lansing

A KCC softball player bats during a home game.

The Kellogg Community College softball team swept Grand Rapids Community College last Thursday but dropped a doubleheader to Lansing Community College on Friday.

Below are results for the Bruins’ latest games. To sign up to receive KCC softball results by email, visit www.kellogg.edu/softball and fill out the “Get KCC Athletics Results by Email” form on the left side (desktop) or bottom (mobile) of the page.

Thursday, April 19, Game 1: KCC 13, GRCC 1

KCC softball defeated GRCC 13-1 in the first of an afternoon doubleheader Thursday, April 19, in Grand Rapids.

Sophomore pitcher Alexa Stephenson (Battle Creek/Pennfield High School) led the Bruins at the plate, hitting 3-3 including two doubles, a triple and an RBI. Sophomore catcher Kailyn Ebeling (Decatur/Decatur High School) hit 3-4, including a double, while sophomore outfielder Jessica Roan (Battle Creek/Pennfield High School) hit 2-4, including a two-run homer and two RBIs.

Also performing for the Bruins were sophomore infielder/outfielder Dakota Keating (Springport/Springport High School), who hit 1-2 with three RBIs; freshman infielder Katelyn Leckie (Parchment/Parchment High School), who hit 1-2, including an RBI; sophomore infielder/outfielder Kimberly Kucharczyk (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School), who hit 1-3; and sophomore pitcher Kylie Masko (Grand Haven/Grand Haven High School), who had an RBI.

Head KCC Softball Coach Mike Miller said the Bruins scored three runs to start the game, added one in the second and exploded with seven in the third to put the game away early.

“That’s the offensive start you want,” Miller said. “Three runs in the first and a big third inning set the stage for us.”

Miller said Stephenson kept the Raiders in check from the mound, allowing four hits in five innings pitched to get the win.

“Alexa gets the job done and fields her position well,” Miller said. “She had an solid offensive day to boot.”

Thursday, April 19, Game 2: KCC 10, GRCC 7

KCC wrapped up the April 19 doubleheader with a 10-7 win over GRCC.

Sophomore outfielder Jessica Roan (Battle Creek/Pennfield High School) hit 4-5, including a double, a triple and four RBIs. Stephenson hit 3-4; Ebeling hit 3-5 with two RBIs; Leckie hit 2-3, including a double; and sophomore infielder Tyler Snyder (Portage/Portage Central High School) hit 2-5, including a double and two RBIs.

Coach Miller said the Bruins were up 4-0 in the third but fell behind when GRCC scored five runs in the fourth inning, shifting the game’s momentum. GRCC scored two more in the sixth to widen their lead heading into the seventh, but KCC rallied with six runs in the top of the seventh.

“As a rule, you don’t want to trail by three runs in your final at-bat, but we took the right approach and got an impressive win,” Miller said. “It was a great day for sure. I like the comeback attitude and the way we didn’t change our approach at the plate.”

Friday, April 20, Game 1: LCC 12, KCC 4

KCC fell to LCC 12-4 in a five-inning first game of an afternoon doubleheader Friday, April 20, in Lansing.

Stephenson again led the Bruins on offense, hitting 2-2 with two RBIs. Snyder hit 1-3, including two RBIs; Lecki hit 1-3, including a double; and Roan hit 1-3.

Coach Miller said the Stars scored three times in each of the first three innings to lead 9-2.

“Lansing put the ball in play and with the windy conditions kept us in a defensive jam all game,” Miller said.

Friday, April 20, Game 2: LCC 11, KCC 5

KCC dropped the second game of the day to LCC 11-5 on Friday.

Keating led the Bruins on offense, hitting 3-3, including a double and an RBI; Ebeling hit 1-3, including a home run and two RBIs; and Masko hit 2-4.

Coach Miller said the Bruins started the second game with a nice offensive first inning, scoring three runs. An error in the fourth handed the Bruins another run, but two Lansing runs in the third cut the Bruins’ lead in half. Ebeling hit a solo shot in the fifth to put the Bruins ahead 5-2, but the Bruins couldn’t hang onto the lead.

“We started great in the second game and kept them scoreless in three of the four defensive innings, but things changed in the fifth and sixth,” Miller said. “The Stars scored nine runs in their final two innings on offense.”

The Season Continues

The latest results bring the Bruins’ overall record for the season so far to 5-15; the team’s conference record is 4-8. The team plays next beginning at 3 p.m. today, Tuesday, April 24, against conference opponent Jackson College at Bailey Park in Battle Creek.

For more information about KCC’s softball team, including a full schedule, roster and links to official team and player photos available for download by fans and the press, visit www.kellogg.edu/softball.

Head KCC Softball Coach Mike Miller can be reached at softballcoach@kellogg.edu.