Submitted

North Central Missouri College split a home doubleheader with Jefferson College on Saturday, moving to 5-1 in Region 16 play and 9-17 overall.

The Lady Pirates dropped the opener 3-0 before bouncing back to win the nightcap 4-3 in extra innings.

Jefferson College 3, NCMC 0

NCMC was unable to take advantage of several scoring chances in the first game, falling 3-0 despite a solid effort in the circle and on the bases.

The Lady Pirates finished with five hits, led by Kaylor Hodge, who went 2-for-3. Ireland Bloss doubled and reached base twice, while Skylar Sunderland also turned in a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.

NCMC showed patience offensively and drew six walks, including two by Alex Endicott, but could not push a run across against Jefferson College’s pitching staff.

Sunderland gave the Lady Pirates a steady start, working five innings and allowing three runs, two of them earned, on four hits. She kept NCMC within striking distance before Myla Laws entered in relief and threw two scoreless innings, striking out two and not allowing a hit.

Jefferson College got all three of its runs on timely hitting. Macey Nix collected two hits, while Alexia Chevrier finished with three hits to lead Jefferson at the plate.

NCMC 4, Jefferson College 3

NCMC answered in the second game with a hard-fought 4-3 extra-innings victory, using balanced offense and strong relief pitching to secure the split.

The Lady Pirates collected nine hits in the win. Emma Lisenbee went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Ireland Bloss added two hits, including a double, and also drove in a run. Alex Endicott and Kaylor Hodge each added an RBI as NCMC came through with timely offense.

Cora Thompson provided another spark, going 2-for-4 and stealing a base. Ella Barnett, Skylar Sunderland and Katie Pierson each scored a run. NCMC also continued to show discipline at the plate, drawing eight walks to keep pressure on Jefferson College.

Lisenbee started in the circle and struck out five over four innings while allowing two runs. Bloss was strong in relief, tossing four innings and giving up just one hit and one run to earn the victory and shut down Jefferson late in the game.

Defensively, NCMC turned two double plays. Chariss Barnard and Thompson played key roles in both, helping the Lady Pirates preserve the one-run win.