MacKenze Gudde was cold.
In sports, the term sometimes means to be emotionless and effective in critical situations.
Surrounded by former Cole Camp teammates, shivering parents and the State Fair Community College baseball team in the stands – and up to bat for a bases-loaded, 2-out situation in the Lady Roadrunners’ inaugural softball game, Gudde was in a critical situation.
And she was cold.
“We could not have scripted this any better,” said State Fair softball head coach Lyndsey Talbot, who used a Cottey College visit to the mound to remind her starting pitcher and No. 3 batter to relax.
Gudde, ice in her veins, drove a full-count Cottey College delivery over the left-center fence for a walk-off grand slam Friday, Feb. 24 to secure a victory in the Lady Roadrunner’s first-ever softball game, 7-5.
Temperatures were near freezing and wind gusts made it worse for Gudde, who was too chilly to be nervous.
“All I’m thinking about is that I’m cold right now,” Gudde said. “I was out there shivering – freezing. On the inside, I was freaking out.”
The Lady Roadrunners (2-0) scored five runs in the seventh inning to overcome a 5-2 deficit against Cottey College in game one of Friday’s doubleheader. SFCC defeated the Comets 10-4 in game two behind seven innings from Madison Harris.
Back-to-back doubles from Makayla Sivils and Harris, who was pinch-hitting, sparked the seventh-inning rally in game one. Harris’ double scored Sivils, and a pair of walks loaded the bases.
“First game, we knew we weren’t going down easy” Gudde said. “It was a team effort.”
Gudde’s first collegiate home run also clinched her first win as a collegiate pitcher. The freshman from Cole Camp struck out five batters in seven innings, surrendering five runs and two solo home runs.
The Comets scored its leadoff runner, Izzy Milligan, to start the game and added another run in the second on a Jessica Manderino triple.
Talbot said both pitchers were solid on Friday, and that positional nuances – where to be when the ball is hit – are the first priority for the next SFCC practice.
“Great pitching performances from Maddie (Harris) and Mac (Gudde),” Talbot said. “Maddie isn’t necessarily comfortable in a whole-game role, but, you saw what she did. She was very composed.”
Lady Roadrunners softball faces the Missouri Valley junior varsity in a doubleheader 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday at Indian Foothills Park-Lyon Bowl in Marshall.
