Shadduck shines in Stars' softball split

By Michael Leek
Sports Editor 

A defensive clinic and a great pitching performance by freshman Kyra Shadduck helped the LCC softball team split a pair of games at home against Davenport JV on Tuesday, April 23.

LCC won the first game 2-0 and lost the second game 5-2. This moved the Stars’ record to 29-15 overall. These were not conference games.

In the first game, Shadduck pitched all seven innings, giving up seven hits while recording 11 strikeouts to get the win for LCC.

LCC Head Coach Marc Kibby said the defense is the reason the Stars won the game as the team’s offense was not firing. Despite that, he was impressed with how the game turned out.

“It was probably one our best games of the year,” Kibby said. “Pitching and key hits, everything just kind of clicked to win that first game.”

Offensively, the Stars only recorded four hits in the first game, with sophomore Jenna Morse getting one and bringing in an RBI while doing so. Sophomore Carly McLaren had the other RBI for LCC.

LCC freshman Isabelle Robinson hits the ball at Ranney Park on April 23.  Photo by Kaitlyn Delaney

LCC lost the second game by three runs. Kibby said both games explain how the season has been going.

“It sums up our season as a rollercoaster ride,” Kibby said. “We can be a damn good team or we can not be good.”

Sophomore pitcher Kelsey Merillat was on the mound for five innings for the Stars. She gave up eight hits, with three of them being home runs. Sophomore Madison Travis was brought in to pitch the last two innings for LCC, giving up one hit.

The Stars recorded more hits in this game with six as Travis had three, and both LCC RBIs.

Morse, McLaren and freshman Malea Gardner recorded the other three hits.

LCC's next scheduled game is on the road against Marian University Ancilla on Thursday, April 25. The Stars won both games convincingly in their first meeting against Ancilla at home earlier this month.

Kibby said learning how to not dwell on mistakes will help take them over the top as a team.

“We can’t let those mistakes mentally or physically carry over to the next play,” Kibby said. “What’s happened happened, and move on.”