OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County Community College softball team recently swept a two-game series at Neosho County Community College to remain in a three-way tie with Cowley College and Labette Community College for first place in the Kansas Jayhawk D-II Conference race. All three teams are 5-1 in conference play. The Lady Cavaliers won the first game 7-0 and followed with a 4-3 victory.
In the first game, Johnson County pounded out 12 hits and Neosho County committed eight errors over the seven innings played.
Freshman outfielder Ivy Brewer, sophomore shortstop Manny Johansen and sophomore pitcher Kerrigan Dixon each collected three hits. Brewer and Johansen each drove in a run. Sophomore Jordyn Clough had a single and double and scored a run.
Dixon also was a factor in the circle. She allowed just two singles and no runs while striking out nine of the 23 batters she faced. Her nine strikeouts are the second-best single game over her two seasons at JCCC. She currently ranks in the top-10 in the conference for wins (5-10th) and strikeouts (50-9th) and she leads the conference with a 1.45 ERA.
In the second game, the Lady Cavaliers rallied from a 3-1 deficit with single runs in the sixth and eighth innings to post the one-run victory. Freshman infielder Dez Duncan led the way with two hits and an RBI, and freshman Lenae Salinas belted a solo home run, her second of the season.
Freshman Hallie Henderson pitched all eight innings. She allowed three runs, one earned, off five hits with eight strikeouts. This was her first victory of the season.
Johnson County will look to remain on top of the conference standings Tuesday, April 2, when they host Labette at 2 and 4 p.m.