The Kansas City Kansas Community College baseball team secured a 9-5 victory over Cloud County Community College Tuesday at KCKCC Baseball Field. The Blue Devils were able to out hit the Thunderbirds who were receiving votes in the NJCAA DI Baseball Preseason Rankings.

Cloud County took an early lead with a run in the first inning, resulting in a 1-0 advantage and added two more runs in the top of the second inning to make it 3-1. KCKCC responded in the second inning with a run to bring the game within reach.

In the fourth inning, KCKCC narrowed the gap as Braden Horn hit a hard ground ball to the pitcher's glove and it skipped slowly to the shortstop with the bases loaded to score one run. After allowing one run in the top of the fifth inning, making it 4-2 in favor over the T-birds, the Blue Devils exploded in the bottom half of the inning adding four runs. With two outs, Holden Finley started off the scoring with another hard-hit ball right at the pitcher, scoring Ian Woita from second base. Next up was Brady Kern, who hit a three-run shot over the left field fence to make it 6-4 in favor of the Blue Devils.

The sixth inning saw the Thunderbirds add a run, reducing KCKCC's lead to 6-5. In the seventh inning, KCKCC extended its lead with a three-run inning, highlighted by Kern's two-RBI bunt, pushing the score to 9-5.

The Blue Devils maintained their lead in the final two innings, securing a 9-5 victory over the Thunderbirds.

Tanner Warner started the game for the Blue Devils, pitching one inning and allowing three earned runs on three hits with four walks. Avery Oravetz delivered a strong relief performance, pitching 3 2/3 innings with three strikeouts, earning the win and maintaining a WHIP of 0.94. James Dulle contributed one inning of work, giving up one run on two hits. Cohen Epler impressed with 2 1/3 innings, striking out two batters while maintaining a WHIP of 0.48. Blake Neis closed the game with a perfect inning, facing threebatters without allowing a hit or walk, achieving a WHIP of 0.00.

Kern recorded two hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs. Carlos Rivera collected three hits and added a stolen base. Ian Woita tallied three hits and scored once, contributing to the offensive effort.