Lady Eagles sweep games
TEXARKANA, Texas — Once the game got going, Texas A&M UniversityTexarkana took care of business on the softball diamond, even if it took a few extra innings.
The Lady Eagles swept the Louisiana State University Alexandria Generals in their afternoon Red River Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday at Bramlett Field.
The Eagles blanked the Generals in the first game, 6-0, and 4-3, in the nightcap in extra innings.
Game 1
TAMU-T jumped on the board in the bottom of the first inning, after Erika Richardson slapped a single through the middle, driving in Cassidy Lee and Katie Slamer, giving the Eagles a 2-0 advantage.
Richardson went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI for the Eagles.
Dorrie Cormier started in the circle for TAMU-T. Cormier pitched a complete game, striking out three batters and gave up four hits.
“This first game was really tough,” TAMU-T head coach Marie Stone. “In the first inning with one out,
to have one of our players go down with a catastrophic injury, to the point where the ambulance had to be called, was pretty tough.
“I’m proud of the team’s maturity and ability to regroup after all of that. I’m glad we came out and handled business the rest of the game.”
The Eagles got their offense going in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Laura Dyer hit a double over a Lady General’s head, driving in Jordyn Logan and Lauren Huff, giving TAMU-T a four run cushion, 4-0.
Logan and Huff each contributed one hit a piece in the game.
Dyer finished the first game going 1 for 3 with a double, 2 RBI and a run scored for TAMU-T.
A couple of batters later, Cassidy Lee hit a line drive double, driving in Molly Hanson and Dyer.
Lee went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and a run scored in the first game for the Eagles.
“We talked about everything as a group and our main objective was to remain focused,” Stone said. “We knew our player was in good hands and we knew that we would get updates as soon as possible.”
Game 2
Dyer hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning, driving in Logan.
Dyer went 2 for 3 with a RBI.
The Generals took the first lead of the game when Eryn Sanchez drove in Bailey Hughes in the top of the third inning with two outs.
Hughes finished 1 for 4 with a run scored at the dish for the Generals.
Sanchez went 1 for 4 with a RBI-double at the plate for LSU-A.
Sanchez also started in the circle for LSU-A, going seven innings and gave up three runs.
“We kinda have this new saying on the team that we’re the comeback kids,” Stone said. “I like to think of us as the cardiac kids, cuz they’re always giving me heart attacks.
“This has become somewhat of our strategy this season. When we’re down, we know we’re not out. We’ve won a few games this season, coming from behind. They know to stay focus and take the game one pitch at a time.”
Lauren Bierschenk started in the circle for the Eagles. Bierschenk went nine innings, gave up three runs and five hits.
Ryleigh Rutherford lined a single down the third baseline for the Generals, driving in Lauryn McMahon and Miyah Portails, adding to their lead over the Eagles in the top of the sixth inning, 3-0.
Rutherford ended the game going 3 for 4 with 2 RBI.
Sierra Mihailov put the Eagles on the scoreboard in he bottom of the sixth, slapping a single over the LSU-A shortstop, driving in Cassidy Lee for TAMU-T.
Mihailov went 2 for 4 with a double, RBI and a run scored.
Morgan Bullock tied the contest, 3-3, in the bottom of the sixth on a single to left field, driving in Mihailov and Richardson.
“This win is huge,” Stone said. “LSU-A is one of the best teams in our conference and we were able to take 2-out-of-3 games from them. Especially given everything, is awesome we were able to do that. Our next conference games are against Our Lady of The Lake on the road.
“They’re a solid team as well, so I believe it just helps to prepare us.”