The Bossier Parish Community College Lady Cavaliers swept a doubleheader, 2-0 and 9-1, from the Northeast Texas Community College Eagles Wednesday at the BPCC Softball Field.
Leading 7-1 in the bottom of the fifth of game two, the Lady Cavs would close out the game by scoring two runs to make the final 9-1 by the mercy rule. Emily Hardy and Stacey Landry had back-to-back singles to start the inning. Hardy would score on Shelrika Byrant’s sacrifice bunt, then Zoe Hancock delivered an RBI single to score Landry with the game winner.
The Lady Cavaliers erupted for five runs in the bottom of the first inning of game two. Chelsea Fagan hit a 2-run to put the Lady Cavs on the board. Fagan, a sophomore from Bastrop, continues to lead Division I of the NJCAA with 31 home runs. There was a slight bit of controversy, when Emily Hardy was ruled safe at first base after striking out on a wild pitch.
After breaking for first base, Hardy collided with the NTCC pitcher, both players tumbling to the ground. The umpires ruled that the Eagles pitcher interfered with Hardy and granted her first base. On the play, Jayleen Lantier scored from third base. Immediately after, Landry drilled a two-RBI double to the gap in right-center field scoring Morgan Bullock and Hardy. Landry, a freshman from Lafayette, La., went 2-for-3 in the game with a double and two RBIs.
After NTCC score a run in the top of the fourth, shortstop Bryant led off the bottom of the inning with a single. Elisa Favela followed with line drive home run over the left-center field fence, her 13th of the season.
Freshman Kat Roth delivered another solid pitching performance for the Lady Cavs. The freshman from Park Hill, Okla., allowed four hits and one earned run through five innings. She did not walk a batter and struck out two to improve her record to 9-1 on the year.
In game one, BPCC scored single runs in the third and fourth innings then held on for a 2-0 win. Zoe Hancock led off the bottom of the third inning with a single, then Favela singled to right-center field.
NTCC right fielder Concepcion Adame had trouble fielding the sharply hit ball, which allowed the speed Hancock to score all the way from first base. Ryann DiBasilio’s belted an RBI single to right field in the fourth, which scored Morgan Bullock, who led off the inning with a single.
NTCC had a chance to tie or even take the lead in the top of the seventh. With two outs, the Eagles loaded the bases on a single, a hit batter and a walk. However, BPCC’s Jenna James was able to strike out Hannah Powdrill to end the game and preserve the 2-0 win.
James, a freshman from Orange, Texas, came on in relief of starter Dorrie Cormier in the fourth. She allowed just four hits over three and a third innings of work. She walked three and struck out three to earn her fifth win of the season.
With the doubleheader sweep, the BPCC Lady Cavaliers improve their overall record to 34-10 and their Region XIV record to 15-5. The two losses drop NTCC to 12-27 overall and 7-15 in conference play.
The Lady Cavaliers travel to Kilgore, Texas on Sat., April 21 to take on the Kilgore College Lady Rangers.
— Charlie Cavell, BPCC Athletic Coordinator
