KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Perhaps Kansas City Kansas Community College should consider changing its mascot from the Blue Devils to the Fighting Rasputins.
Twice on Saturday, Allen Community College held a lead against KCK.
Twice Kansas City rallied to send the Red Devils home brokenhearted.
Kansas City erased a 4-0 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extra innings of the opener, then scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth with a walk-off 5-4 victory.
Then, after Allen had worked to secure the lead in Saturday’s nightcap, KCK erupted for four in the bottom of the fifth before staving off an Allen rally to win, 8-7.
The setbacks drop the Red Devils below the .500 mark at 15-16.
Saturday’s opening loss spoiled a brilliant pitching performance from Allen’s Payton Pudenz. He had shut out the power KCK lineup through the sixth inning, but wobbled a bit in the seventh. Nicholas Walter and Brodie Gleason came on in relief.
Pudenz struck out five over 6.1 innings, scattering seven hits.
Bjarne Reinhardt and Parker Martin led the Red Devil offense. Reinhardt singled three times, while Martin had a single and double. Cale Clark added a triple and run scored.
Problem was, Allen had only two other hits, singles from Anthony Talpa and Meese Robberse.
Hits were just as difficult to come by in Saturday’s second game. Caleb Horsey had ACC’s only extra-base hit, a double. Reinhardt, Martin and Clark each had singles.
Owen Myers got the start. He allowed five hits over four innings. Manuel Toro and Seth Broadwell came on in relief, combining to give up four hits with a strikeout.
Allen is back in action with a doubleheader at Neosho County Community College Thursday and two games against NCCC at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday at home.
