OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County Community College softball team began Monday learning they moved up one spot in the NJCAA Division II rankings to No. 7, then capped the day with a two-game sweep at Cowley College, winning 4-3 and 15-7.
In the first game trailing 3-1 in the top of the seventh, shortstop Jaylee Jefferson blasted at two-run shot over center field to tie the game followed by an RBI single by center fielder Haley Bryant to take a 4-3 lead.
Starting pitcher Maggie McNally pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to secure the win for the Lady Cavaliers. On the day, McNally allowed just two hits, three runs with five strikeouts to earn her eighth complete-game victory and 11th win overall.
In the second game, Johnson County plated five runs in the first and sixth innings and four in the fifth to easily dispatch the Tigers.
The Lady Cavaliers 3-4-5 hitters provided most of the production. Jefferson, third baseman Aspen Burgardt and first baseman Kate Ediger combed for 11 RBI and six runs.
Jefferson went 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Burgardt hit a two-run homer, drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and scored three times and Ediger had a two-run single and two sacrifice flies that drove in a run.
Leadoff hitter Taryn Burkhardt also helped set the pace by getting on base five times with two hits and three walks. She also scored three runs and drove in one run. Catcher Riahn Pinkerton and right fielder Gracie Ramsey proved the other two RBIs.
Jalin Lavers improved to 10-1 in the circle. The right-hander surrendered seven hits and seven runs, five earned, over six innings, striking out seven.
Johnson County (37-7, 16-2) currently stands alone in first place in the KJCCC D-II standings with four games to play. The Lady Cavaliers travel to Kansas City Kansas on Friday, May 3 for two games and close out the regular season at home in a double header against Coffeyville on Saturday, May 4 with the first pitch scheduled for noon.