By Justin Hargrove:
The Northeast Texas Community College Eagles (14-26, 9-15) softball team dropped both games in a doubleheader against the Angelina College Roadrunners (31-7, 16-4) on Friday. Angelina took game one 2-1 and game two 3-2.
The Eagles had a special guest and friend of the team, Richie Witherspoon, on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on a beautiful day for the home softball game.
Both teams were strong in the circle in game one, but Angelina College was just a little bit stronger at the plate in a victory over the Eagles on Friday. Jamie Franks (Hardin Simmons University) started the game for NTCC, struck out four, and did not walk any batters during her complete game performance.
The Eagles lone run on the day came in the fifth inning when Macee Hollins reached on an error and later scored on a single by Shelby Baker (Hardin Simmons University)
Baker led the Eagles offense going two for four with an RBI in game one.
Game two again saw a pitcher’s duel with Kara Carter in the circle for the Eagles. Carter, just like Franks in game one, went the distance and struck out four Angelina batters on the day.
NTCC got things started in the first inning when Shelby Baker's sac fly scored Ramzi Smith (East Texas Baptist University) who doubled to lead off the inning for the Eagles.
Angelina College tied things up on a sacrifice fly in the third inning to put the score at 1-1.
The Roadrunners added two more runs in the fifth inning to go up 3-1, but the Eagles would not go away quietly. Raylei Merrell would double to start things off in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hayley Chapa came into run for Merrell and scored on a single by Taylor Gonzalez to cut the lead to 3-2. That was all the Eagles could manage and the comeback effort fell just short in game two.
Blakelea Nettles led NTCC going two for three with an RBI in game two on Friday.
