By: Justin Hargrove, NTCC Assistant Athletic Director
Northeast Texas Community College Eagles Softball (10-22, 5-11) traveled to Kilgore College (17-15, 7-7) Wednesday to makeup a rained out contest from last weekend. Kilgore took down the Eagles in game one of the double header 7-5. Game two of the day saw the Eagles soar to victory by a score of 11-9 to earn the split with Kilgore College on the day.
After giving up five runs in the opening frame, the Eagles roared back with five runs of their own in the fourth inning, but the comeback effort fell short and they lost 7-5 to Kilgore College Rangers on Wednesday.
After the Eagles tied things in the fourth inning, Kilgore answered with one run in the fifth and one in the sixth inning to end the comeback threat. The Rangers got things started in the first inning when Makenna Bell homered on a 0-2 count, scoring two runs.
During the five-run fourth inning, the Eagles’ big inning was powered by a walk by Conci Adame, a single by Haley Chapa, an RBI groundout by Sydni Soileau, and an error on a ball put in play by Shelby Baker.
Jamie Franks led things off in the circle for Eagle Softball. She allowed 13 hits and seven runs over six innings. Blakelea Nettles, Chapa, Haylee Wilson, and Baker each collected one hit to lead NTCC’s offense in game one.
NTCC defeated Kilgore 11-9 in game two after taking the lead late in the game. Kilgore got on the board in the first inning when the Rangers scored one run on a stolen base.
The Eagles built a five-run lead in the fifth inning and then held off Kilgore’s late charge. The game was tied at five with Eagles Softball batting in the top of the fifth when Macee Hollins singled on a 1-2 count, scoring two runs.
NTCC had 14 hits in game two with Baker, Hollins, Blakelea Nettles, Brooklyn Manes, and Korbyn Bassett all collected multiple hits for the Eagles. Nettles, Hollins, and Baker each collected three hits to lead NTCC to a series split. Baker, Hollins, and Bassett all had three RBI’s to drive the Eagles offense. Eagle Softball did not commit a single error in the field helping to secure the win.
NTCC had Kara Carter in the circle for the Eagles. Carter had seven strikeouts on the day to earn the complete game victory.
The Eagles will return to action on Friday, April 12 when they travel to Paris Junior College for more conference action. A home game against TVCC is scheduled for Saturday, but has been postponed due to expected severe weather.
