Angelina College’s softball and baseball teams each recognized sophomores on their respective Sophomore Days, and while the Roadrunner baseball team closed out its season, the Lady ‘Runner softball team will march into the postseason on a torrid streak.
Following are this past week’s events, along with what’s next at AC:
Lady Roadrunner Softball:
AC’s ladies squared off against the conference’s two best teams this week, starting with Wednesday’s doubleheader at 15th-ranked Galveston College – a team the Lady ‘Runners swept at home back on April 3. This time, AC battled to split the doubleheader, falling 5-1 in the opener and rebounding for a 9-8 win in the nightcap. Bailey Frenzel homered and drove in four runs in the win, with Lace Tangianau adding two RBI for the offense. Pitcher Morgan Louviere entered the game in the sixth inning and held the Whitecaps scoreless over one and third innings to earn the save.
A thrilling win for sure, but just a hint of things to come.
On Saturday, the Lady Roadrunners closed out the conference season with a huge 7-6, 6-0 sweep of first-place San Jacinto College on Sophomore Night. Displaying the perseverance leading to the recent AC hot streak (11 wins in the past 12 games), the Lady ‘Runners were the victims of a five-inning no-hitter from Coyote pitcher Christin Haygood. In the bottom of the sixth, however, AC broke through for four runs, three of those coming on Skyler Martin’s three-run homer to give the Lady Roadrunners a 5-2 lead.
San Jac answered with a grand slam in the top of the seventh, setting up the dramatics for the bottom of the frame.
Madi Baker reached on an error and moved to third on Frenzel’s single. Kaetlyn Dunbar tied the game with a sacrifice fly to score Baker, and Lace Tangianau set off a walk-off celebration with a double to the left centerfield gap.
Following the game, the team held its Sophomore Night ceremony, paying tribute to Lady ‘Runners Hailey Fuentes, Alyssa Collazo, Madi Baker, Mia Gilmore, Lace Tangianau, Morgan Louviere, Bailey Frenzel, Ashtyn Alvarez, Haley Primrose and Gianna Wade.
AC will host a non-conference regular-season finale on Wednesday against Louisiana State University-Eunice. Starting time for the doubleheader is 4 p.m.
The Lady ‘Runners (23-19, 14-8) then will enter the Region XIV conference tournament, having clinched the third-place spot in the South Zone.
The regional tournament takes place in Shreveport, Louisiana beginning on Friday, May 12, and wrapping up on Monday, May 15, with teams vying for spots in the national tournament. Seedings and schedules will be announced after this week’s regular season concludes.
Roadrunner Baseball:
The Roadrunner baseball team closed out its season in style on Wednesday, sweeping Northeast Texas Community College 7-6 and 6-2 on Sophomore Day at Poland Field on the AC campus.
Sophomore Weston Dean went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs, and fellow sophomore Tripp Cromer smashed a three-run homer to lead the ‘Runners. Taylor Seay pitched the final inning and a third to earn the save.
Dean stayed hot at the plate in the nightcap, again collecting three hits in four trips to the plate. Dalton Mullins finished with four RBI, and Dean and Parker Mason each drove in a run. Garrett Nail allowed just two earned runs over 5 2/3 innings, and Peyton Fosher, Tyler Ward, and Tyler McCuistion teamed up for 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
The team recognized its Roadrunner sophomores in a Sophomore Day pre-game ceremony. ‘Runners making their final appearance for AC included Weston Dean, Mario Mendoza, Mason Swidersky, Heladio Moreno, Matthew Tippie, Slade Foreman, Elian Balmaceda, Peyton Fosher, Jaxon Hansen, Tripp Cromer, Coby Schoettlin, Tyler McCuistion, Seth Schneider, Parker Mason, Tyler Ward, Jordan Belin, Clayton Holt, and Brock Holton.
The Roadrunners ended their season with a 27-27, 16-20 record.
Men’s Basketball in the Community:
On Saturday, players and coaches from the Roadrunner men’s basketball team spent the day fishing with some youngsters as part of Impact Lufkin’s Second Annual Community Fishing event in Lufkin. Some of the AC guys were experiencing the feeling of a fish on the line for the very first time, so their excitement was as genuine as that of the kids for whom they were serving as mentors.
COMING SOON: AC Athletics teams will announce any upcoming summer events soon, including any youth events, tryouts, and other public occasions.
