Pictured: Braylynn Henderson
By: Justin Hargrove, Assistant Athletic Director
The Northeast Texas Community College Softball team finally got to take the field Sunday, but had to do so on the road due to wet field conditions at NTCC. The Eagles picked up their first wins of the season to start 2-0 after defeating Arkansas Rich Mountain 10-0 and 8-7.
Freshmen pitcher Braylynn Henderson (West Columbia, TX) once again shined in the circle with a two hit, nine strikeouts, complete game shutout in game one.
The Eagles offense was led by Sophomore Haley McAlexander (New Boston, TX) who went two for three with two runs scored in game one. Sophomore, Hannah Boettcher (Valley Mills, TX) went one for one (homerun) and two walks and two runs scored. Freshmen, Giselle Fuentes (Lacissine, LA) also got off to a great start reaching base safely in all three at bats and scoring 2 twice.
NTCC would score five runs in the second inning after Boettcher led off the inning with the solo homerun. They would again put up a five spot in the third inning to put the game away with a 10-0 lead. The Eagles were patient at the plate five walks to go along with eight timely hits in game one.
In game two action, the Eagles bats stayed hot and pulled off the 8-7 win when Boettcher hit her second homerun of the day in the top of the seventh with a runner on base and two outs. She would go four for four with a double and the homerun in game two.
Fellow sophomore and hometown girl, Carson Zachry (Mount Pleasant, TX) would get her first home run of the season as an Eagle in the fifth inning of the game to help pace the offense in game two. Freshmen Autumn Bias (Cleburne, TX) was two for four with two Runs Batted In in game two.
Game two was back and forth for NTCC and Rich Mountain, as the Eagles got on the board first in the second inning taking a 2-0 lead. Rich Mountain answered back in the third with three runs to move ahead 3-2. NTCC would tie things in the fourth inning when Bias scored for NTCC. The Eagles moved the lead to 6-3 in the sixth inning but that lead would be short lived as Rich Mountain scored four runs in their half of the sixth to regain the lead 7-6.
Boettcher would get her hero moment in the top of the seventh with two outs and Lilly Galaviz (Denton, TX) would reach on a fielder’s choice. Hannah would blast her second home run of the day to put the Eagles ahead for good, 8-7.
The Eagles will be on the road February 8th as they travel to Weatherford Junior College before finally getting to have the home opener on Friday, February 10th vs Angelina College at 2:00pm.
