OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The No. 7-ranked Johnson County softball team improved to 26-6 on the season with a two-game sweep over Cloud County Saturday afternoon at the JCCC Softball Complex. The Lady Cavaliers opened with a 8-0, five-inning victory followed by a 3-0 shutout.
In the first game freshman third baseman Aspen Burgardt drove in four runs on two hits to lead Johnson County past the Thunderbirds. She doubled in a run in the first inning to get JCCC on the board, then blasted a three-run shot over center field in the fifth to ice the game.
Burgardt's homer was her league-leading 17th on the season. She also leads the conference in batting average (.515), RBI (54) and extra base hits (37).
Freshman second baseman Izzy Carter collected three hits, including an RBI double in the third inning, and scored three times. Freshman shortstop Jaylee Jefferson also drove in two in the inning with a homer to center.
Sophomore outfielder Eve Morris closed out the scoring with a solo shot in the fifth. Sophomore outfielder Gracie Ramsey collected two hits and scored a run.
Freshman right-hand pitcher Jalin Lavers earned the complete-game victory scattering five hits with no runs and three strikeouts. She now stands 7-1 on the seaon.
Both were strong in the circle in the second game, but JCCC's Kaelyn Conrad proved to be the more dominant pitcher. The freshman left-hander allowed just two hits and struck out three over seven innings to up her record to 7-1 on the year.
The Lady Cavaliers got all the offense they need in the fourth inning. Burgardt doubled and scored on a home run from sophomore first baseman Kate Ediger, her seventh on the season.
Jefferson added an insurance run in the sixth with a home run to left field, her ninth round tripper of the year.
Johnson County has two conference double headers this week. First, they travel to Chanute to take on Neosho County Thursday, April 11, then return home to host Independence on Saturday, April 13. First pitch is scheduled for noon.