Archers Dominate East Central with Back-to-Back Wins

St. Louis Community College (STLCC) kicked off the day with an impressive 8-0 victory over East Central College in a one-sided affair. The game, held at STLCC's home field, showcased the home team's offensive prowess and dominant pitching, setting a high bar for their upcoming matches.

From the onset, STLCC took control of the game. The first inning saw a flurry of activity as the home team quickly put three runs on the board. A. Bellamy and P. Glasgow were instrumental in this early success, with Bellamy hitting a crucial double and Glasgow following suit. Their aggressive batting set the tone for the game and left East Central struggling to keep up.

The second inning was no less punishing for East Central, as STLCC added four more runs to their tally. Calista Stahlhut and Cece Mora were key contributors, with Stahlhut securing a double and Mora delivering a powerful home run that brought in three RBIs. By the end of the second inning, STLCC had established a commanding 7-0 lead.

East Central College, on the other hand, found themselves unable to mount any significant offense. Avery Little was the sole player to register a hit for East Central, a testament to the overwhelming control exerted by STLCC's pitcher, Calista Stahlhut. Stahlhut was in fine form, pitching a complete game shutout, allowing only one hit, and striking out eight batters over five innings.

The third inning saw STLCC add one more run, courtesy of a solid performance by their lineup, bringing the final score to 8-0. East Central's pitchers, Abrea Simmons and Meagan Hawkins, faced a relentless barrage from STLCC's batters, conceding a total of 11 hits and eight earned runs.

In an engaging second game, St. Louis Community College secured a 4-2 victory over East Central College, showcasing a blend of strategic pitching and timely hitting. 

Game 2 Recap 

The game remained scoreless through the first two innings, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm at the plate. East Central College broke the deadlock in the third inning when Meredith Blakemore drove in a run, giving the visitors a temporary 1-0 lead.

However, St. Louis Community responded in the fourth inning. Abby Bellamy's RBI single and a sacrifice fly from Madison Schieffer helped the home team to a 2-1 lead. They extended their advantage in the fifth inning with two more runs, thanks to a combination of strategic base running and key hits, including contributions from Calista Stahlhut and Emily Newman.

East Central College attempted a late rally in the seventh inning, with Anna Arman hitting a solo home run to narrow the gap to 4-2. Despite their efforts, they couldn't overcome the deficit, as St. Louis Community's pitching staff held firm.

St. Louis Community's pitching was a cornerstone of their victory. Hadley Hughes started the game, allowing just one run over 3.1 innings. Lily Hurley, who earned the win, provided stability with 2.1 shutout innings, while Celia Gildehaus closed out the game, earning her third save of the season despite allowing a late run.

East Central College's Addyson Steele pitched a complete game, demonstrating resilience despite allowing four runs (only one earned) over six innings. Steele's effort kept the game within reach for East Central, but the team was unable to capitalize offensively.

Defensively, both teams had their struggles, with East Central committing four errors and St. Louis Community two. These miscues played a role in the game's outcome, highlighting areas for improvement for both squads.

On the offensive side, Avery Little and Anna Arman stood out for East Central, with Arman hitting the game's only home run. For St. Louis Community, Abby Bellamy and Emily Newman were pivotal, each contributing crucial RBIs.

These victories marks another step forward for St. Louis Community as they continue their season.