Pictured (from left): Hannah Allen, Emily Cole and Tasha Pierce were just a few standout players from the Carl Albert series.
By: Justin Hargrove, Assistant Athletic Director
Northeast Texas Community College Softball made the trip to Poteau, Oklahoma to take on Carl Albert State College in a non-conference matchup. Carl Albert would get the best of NTCC in an extra inning affair in game one by a score of 6-5. Game two was another thriller with NTCC winning 4-3 with a dramatic game ending play when Hanna Allen (Hudson HS) threw out a runner trying to tie the game on a Sacrifice fly to left field. Allen’s accurate throw to catcher Lauren Isbell (Burleson HS) would end the rally by Carl Albert for the Eagle win 4-3.
In game one of the series, Emma Farquhar (Hooks, HS) led off the game with a triple to get things going for NTCC. Kailey Hancock (Central HS) would drive in Farquhar with a single to left field. Tasha Pierce (Hudson HS) would hit her first of three homeruns on the day to bring the Eagle lead to 2-0 after one inning of play.
Both teams would go scoreless in the second inning before NTCC plated another run in the third when Haylee Wilson (Hughes Springs HS) singled to drive in Hancock who had doubled to lead off the inning. Carl Albert cut into the lead in the bottom of the third when they scored two runs to bring the game to 3-2 NTCC.
Trinity Needham (Melissa HS) added the fourth run for the Eagles when she drew a walk and later scored on a single by Farquhar. NTCC led 4-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth, then Carl Albert scored one run to cut the lead to 4-3. The Eagles hope to put the game away in the top of the seventh when Hancock blasted a homerun to lead off the inning and move the score to 5-3 NTCC.
Unfortunately, Carl Albert score two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game a 5-5 and then scored in their half of the eighth inning to win 6-5.
Averie Ayers (Mount Pleasant HS) started and went seven innings before giving way to Halea Wells (Lufkin HS) for the final inning. Ayers would get six strike outs in her start.
In game two of the series, Emily Cole (Paul Pewitt HS) had one of her best games of the season, giving up just five hits and striking out four in her complete game win.
NTCC got on the board first in the second inning when Tasha Pierce hit her second home run of the day to give the Eagles the 1-0 lead. She stayed hot and in her next at bat in the fourth inning launched number three of the day to move NTCC ahead 2-0. Hancock would not be outdone and hit a solo homerun in the sixth to move NTCC ahead 3-0. Carl Albert scored one run in the fourth inning to make the score 3-1.
The Eagles added the fourth and final run in the seventh when Wilson drove in Farquhar who doubled earlier in the inning. Carl Albert attempted a comeback in the seventh, scoring two runs, but the comeback attempt was denied by great Eagles defense. Hanna Allen caught the second out on a pop fly to left field and then gunned the runner down at home as she tried to score ending the game with the Eagles on top 4-3.
NTCC will return to conference play on Wednesday, April 21 when they travel to Tyler Junior College for a double header.
